Trends and Characteristics of Buprenorphine-Involved Overdose Deaths Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

JAMA Network Open

Questions remain about emergency authorizations permitting telehealth services for buprenorphine, and whether these measures resulted in overdose deaths involving buprenorphine. This cross-sectional study examined 74,474 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 46 states and the District of Columbia prior to and during COVID-19. From July 2019-June 2021 there was a total of 89,111 total overdose deaths and 74,474 opioid-involved overdose deaths; buprenorphine was involved in 1,955 deaths, 2.2% of all drug overdose deaths and 2.6% of opioid-involved overdose deaths.  Of these, a higher proportion were female, non-Hispanic White, and lived in rural areas. While opioid-involved overdose deaths increased during this period, those involving buprenorphine did not increase.

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