New CDC Reports Highlight Buprenorphine Access and Cannabis in Overdose Deaths

At CDC, data and science are central to overdose prevention. Research on emerging substance threats and trends in use and overdose helps guide efforts nationwide. Two new CDC reports offer fresh insight into substance use patterns and opportunities for intervention.

Buprenorphine Prescribing in Urban and Rural Areas

A report published in late August examines buprenorphine prescribing across urban and rural settings. Key findings:

Buprenorphine access was higher in urban emergency departments (EDs) than in rural EDs, but pharmacy dispensing was higher in rural settings than urban ones.
Expanding buprenorphine availability and prescriptions, improving pharmacy availability to support ED-based treatment, and sustaining telehealth flexibilities could make treatment more accessible and reduce overdose risk.

Cannabis Among Overdose Deaths

Another publication, released in early September, assessed how often cannabis was present in overdose deaths. Key findings:

Cannabis was found in 1 in 5 overdose deaths from January 2021 to June 2025.
It was listed as the cause of death in less than 1% of overdose deaths.
Among youth ages 12 to 17, nearly half of overdose deaths had cannabis detected, underscoring the importance of early intervention and community-based approaches to prevent youth substance use.

Why It Matters

Whether the goal is expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder or preventing substance use before it starts, these findings add detail to our understanding of overdose trends. They can help states and localities better understand patterns of substance use, including polysubstance use, and tailor prevention efforts to their communities’ needs.