A new analysis by telehealth addiction treatment experts at FirePit Health reveals that Oklahoma faces the fourth-highest opioid risk in the nation, with a vulnerability score of 62.4. The study, which examined factors such as prescription rates, chronic pain, and access to treatment, places Oklahoma behind only West Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
According to the findings, Oklahoma ranks second nationally for its uninsured rate, with 11.4% of residents lacking coverage. The state also has the seventh-highest opioid prescription rate, with 52.9 prescriptions per 100 people. Access to treatment is also a challenge, with the state ranking as the 15th worst out of 50 for the number of clinics available.
'Oklahoma's #4 ranking reveals a state where insurance coverage is the biggest barrier to opioid safety,' says Dr. Hamilton Gaiani, Chief Medical Officer at FirePit Health. He adds that when people cannot afford healthcare, they often turn to more accessible forms of pain relief.
