Journal article
Racial and Ethnic Community Composition and Geographic Distance to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Across the Rural and Urban Divide
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
18 Oct 2025
PMID: 41109940
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
To examine whether geographic driving distance to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment varies by racial/ethnic concentration of residents in urban and rural communities.
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis at the ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) level using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) 2021 Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator. We conducted logistic regressions to examine rural-urban differences in driving distances to SUD treatment facilities among ZCTAs with a high relative concentration of a single racial/ethnic group.
Urban ZCTAs with a high concentration of Black or Hispanic residents had greater odds of having a SUD treatment facility (odds ratio [OR] = 2.39, confidence interval [CI] [2.04, 2.81] and OR = 2.20, CI [1.86, 2.61], respectively), while ZCTAs with a high concentration of White and American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) communities had lower odds (OR = 0.26, CI [0.23, 0.30] and OR = 0.55, CI [0.47, 0.63], respectively), compared to all other ZCTAs.
SUD treatment facilities, which have historically faced heavy stigmatization, are more likely to be placed in communities with a high concentration of Black and Hispanic residents. Consequently, White ZCTAs were less likely to have a SUD treatment facility nearby than other communities. This is important evidence to explore in determining whether stigmatization may play a role in treatment availability.
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Details
- Title
- Racial and Ethnic Community Composition and Geographic Distance to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Across the Rural and Urban Divide
- Creators
- Sophia N D Negaro - University of South CarolinaPeiyin Hung - University of South CarolinaGabriel A Benavidez - Baylor UniversityOlivia M Hinds - University of South CarolinaJan M Eberth - Drexel UniversitySkylar Gross - University of South CarolinaChristina M Andrews (Corresponding Author) - University of South Carolina
- Publication Details
- Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- U1CRH45498 / HRSA HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001595833500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105019072485
- Other Identifier
- 991022123376604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health