Limited acceptance of buprenorphine in recovery residences in South Florida: A secret shopper survey

Background

Buprenorphine is a first-line treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), essential for reducing opioid overdose mortality and improving treatment retention. Despite federal policies that mandate the acceptance of buprenorphine in recovery residences, individuals in South Florida taking this medication often face significant barriers to admission. This study uses a secret shopper survey to examine whether federal policies regarding prescribed buprenorphine use are being violated in South Florida recovery residences.

Methods

We selected recovery residences in South Florida due to the region's high opioid overdose death rate and its prominence as a recovery hub. From a list of 141 Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR)-certified residences in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade, we randomly surveyed 100 programs across all treatment levels (I-IV) using a standardized script. The primary outcome was whether residences accepted individuals taking buprenorphine, classified into three categories: (1) unconditional acceptance, where any person taking buprenorphine was accepted; (2) denial, where admission was refused for all individuals taking buprenorphine; and (3) conditional acceptance, where admission was granted under specific conditions. Secondary outcomes included requirements for conditional acceptance, such as dose limits or tapering policies.

Results

The distribution of the 100 surveyed recovery residences was comparable to the 141 FARR-certified facilities: 67 % were in Palm Beach, 31 % in Broward, and 2 % in Miami-Dade. Most residences (55 %) were level II certified, followed by 26 % level IV, 14 % level I, and 5 % level III. Sixteen percent of residences permitted admission of individuals taking any buprenorphine dose, 31 % had conditional policies, and 53 % prohibited buprenorphine. The maximum acceptance across all counties and levels was 20 %. No significant differences were observed by county (p = 0.61) or facility level (p = 0.29). Of 31 residences with conditional policies, 25.8 % (n = 8) required a mandatory taper, 38.7 % (n = 12) allowed a maximum 8 mg daily dosage, 12.9 % (n = 4) had a maximum 12 mg daily dosage, 6.5 % (n = 2) had a maximum 16 mg daily dosage, 6.5 % (n = 2) required a provider letter, and 9.7 % (n = 3) did not provide further information.

Conclusions

Access to FARR-certified recovery residences is severely limited for individuals in South Florida taking buprenorphine. Urgent action is needed to improve access to evidence-based OUD treatments, address complexities influencing recovery residence policy and practice, and ensure appropriate allocation of public funds like State Opioid Response dollars.