Ohio Study Reveals Gaps in Medication Assisted Treatment Access

A 2025 Ohio University study has noted a troubling disconnect in how primary care providers approach medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. The findings carry serious implications for the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who need medically supervised care to safely detox from opioids.

Ohio has a wide range of detox programs that range from residential facilities to walk-in clinics. The Buckeye State services folks from youths to seniors, and thousands of folks, including inmates, have successfully detoxed each year. But the study indicated that accessibility to MAT is often shaped by providers’ willingness to recommend these programs. 

Dr. Berkeley Franz of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine surveyed nearly 400 primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician associates. Her team assessed their willingness to treat opioid use disorder in primary care settings. The researchers’ findings challenged some long-held assumptions about the treatment gap.

Explaining the Gap in MAT

Participants reviewed simulated clinical notes describing patients with either opioid use disorder or type 2 diabetes. They expressed more empathy toward patients with opioid misuse and knew it was out of patients’ control. But providers were still significantly less likely to offer treatment via MAT. Instead, many chose to refer their patients to other specialists or abstinence programs.

This is a critical problem. Medications like buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone and naltrexone can be prescribed directly in primary care. Bypassing that option delays access to evidence-based care for patients who may already be in crisis.

“Addiction treatment is not being offered as widely as it should be in this critical practice setting,” said Franz. “Ohio, a state disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis, experiences high rates of opioid use and very few patients receive evidence-based care.”

One striking finding was that providers actually rated drug disorder as more treatable than type 2 diabetes, but were still less likely to treat it themselves. Researchers indicate this reflects a confidence gap rather than pure stigma. “This could suggest that health care providers don’t feel as confident working with this population,” said co-investigator Dr. Lindsay Dhanani of Rutgers University. She noted that this problem needs to be addressed at the risk of delaying treatment.

Medical Detox Can’t Wait

For people dependent on opioids, the path to recovery almost always begins with medically supervised detox. Opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own, but many people find it intensely uncomfortable. Withdrawal is a leading cause of treatment dropout and relapse, especially for those who try it cold turkey. MAT during and after detox dramatically changes those outcomes.

Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings while blocking the euphoric effects of other opioids. Methadone provides similar stabilization for more severe dependence. Naltrexone is typically used after detox is complete to prevent relapse. All three offer relief from withdrawal and cravings.

The problem isn’t the medications; it’s access. A 2023 study found that fewer than one in five patients who needed medication for opioid addictions were able to access it within the past year.

The access problem is most acute in rural areas. The majority of rural counties don’t have a single buprenorphine prescriber, including rural hospitals. For communities in southern Ohio, Appalachia, or other underserved regions, the nearest detox center or specialist can be hours away. This makes primary care the most realistic point of entry into treatment.

The Stigma Behind the Treatment Gap

The Ohio University findings reveal that stigma around medication-assisted treatment operates on multiple levels. Stigmas range from cultural attitudes to perceptions about the treatment itself. It’s not just in how providers view patients, but how they view addiction treatment itself.

The study noted that many providers regarded addiction treatment as not “belonging” in primary care. Franz noted that providers don’t see drug management as part of their core role, even though they’re authorized and often fully equipped to prescribe MAT.

While family physicians are authorized to prescribe medications to battle drug misuse, less than 10% do so despite the urgent need.

Physician bias is also stronger in Ohio’s rural counties. Franz observed that many folks encounter “barriers like transportation or stigma, particularly in rural areas where options are limited.” Indeed, areas hardest hit by the opioid crisis are in rural areas rather than cities, and residents face increased provider reluctance, rather than emotional and mental support.

Medical Detox Programs in Ohio and Across the U.S.

If you or someone you love is dependent on opioids, attempting to quit without medical support significantly increases the risk of relapse and overdose, particularly after a period of abstinence, when tolerance drops. Evidence-based medical detox, paired with MAT, is the safest and most effective way to begin recovery.

Barriers to treatment exist but help always stands ready. Call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) to speak with a treatment specialist or browse our directory to find medically supervised detox programs in Ohio or nationwide.