How quickly can someone get an appointment with a provider to treat opioid use disorder (OUD)? Does the provider accept that person\u2019s insurance? Can the person seeking treatment get access to prescription medication during the first visit? Is counseling required to receive medication? And how long might someone have to wait on hold? <\/p>\n
These are practical questions familiar to anyone who has ever made a medical appointment. But for someone who may have recently experienced a nonfatal overdose\u2014a group that faces an estimated mortality rate of 5.5%<\/a> within a year\u2014the answers could mean the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n
Recent research by the University of Pennsylvania<\/a> funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts sought to answer these questions and others that can determine accessibility of treatment for people with OUD seeking care in Philadelphia. The research team used what is known as a \u201csecret shopper\u201d approach, reaching out directly to local providers to simulate the real-world experience of someone seeking care for themselves or a client.<\/p>\n The findings demonstrate that ease of access to evidence-based treatment varies significantly by providers throughout the city and identify several areas for improvement to reduce barriers to care<\/a>. <\/p>\n Although the city has followed national trends of declining overall rates of overdose death<\/a> in recent years, the opioid crisis remains a significant concern; Philadelphia has persistently had one of the highest overdose death rates<\/a> among large U.S. cities and counties. According to a 2025 Pew survey<\/a>, 44% of Philadelphians say they know someone with OUD and 34% say they know someone personally who has died from opioid use. <\/p>\n
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