In California, for example, only about 9% of pharmacies in Black neighborhoods dispensed buprenorphine, compared with 52% in white neighborhoods. The researchers found buprenorphine was least available in Black and Latino neighborhoods across nearly all states. “Medicaid is the backbone of care for people struggling with opioid use disorder,” said Cherlette McCullough, a Florida-based mental health therapist. Many of her patients are covered by Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. In some states, buprenorphine is much more readily available.