November 27, 2024

Less than half of psychiatric hospitals that responded to the 2022 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (490 facilities, or about 48.0%) reported providing opioid addiction treatment (known as Medication for Opioid Use Disorder [MOUD]). Facilities were more likely to offer MOUD if they also provided medications for alcohol use disorder (373 facilities, or 91.9%) or medically managed withdrawal services (308 facilities, or 69.8%). 

Of the 441 facilities that offered medically managed withdrawal, 133 (30.16%) did not provide MOUD. Facilities that provided MOUD had a greater median bed capacity (36 beds) than the overall sample (30 beds). Additionally, the provision of MOUD was positively associated with being located in the Northeast (110 facilities, or 57.3%). Publicly owned psychiatric hospitals were less likely to provide MOUD, with only 52 facilities (35.9%) offering this treatment. 

These findings were reported in “Availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in US Psychiatric Hospitals” by Shawn M. Cohen, M.D.; Tamara Beetham, MPH; David A. Fiellin, M.D.; and Srinivas B. Muvvala, M.D., MPH. The researchers analyzed data from responses to the 2022 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey. The study sample included all facilities in the U.S. (1,021 facilities) that self-reported their facility type as a psychiatric hospital and reported their MOUD availability. 

The full text of “Availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in US Psychiatric Hospitals” was published November 13, 2024, by JAMA Network Open.