Travel Time to Methadone Treatment Via Personal Vehicle vs Public Transit

Source:

Howell BA, Kim J, Thornhill TA, et al. Travel Time to Methadone Treatment Via Personal Vehicle vs Public Transit. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(2):e2557361. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.57361

Key Points

Question  How does transportation access to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder via personal vehicle vs public transit vary across different demographic groups?

Findings  This cross-sectional study estimated travel time for 2702 census block groups in Connecticut to the nearest opioid treatment program via personal vehicle vs public transit. Median travel times from the census block groups with the highest per-capita overdose death rates were 8.2 minutes by personal vehicle and 37.6 minutes by public transit, with 34% lacking adequate public transit access.

Meaning  These findings suggest that transportation access to methadone treatment via public transit is poor and that areas with high overdose death rates, low car ownership, and high public transit travel times should be targets for interventions to lower travel-based barriers to methadone treatment.