Racial Disparities in Opioid Overdoses: A Comprehensive Claims-Based Analysis, 2020-2024

PurposeOpioid overdose deaths disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States, yet claims-based evidence characterizing the multi-dimensional structure of these disparities across incidence, treatment access, costs, and insurance coverage remains limited. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort analysis using the HealthVerity Launch Sample, a large administrative claims database. The study population comprised 3,675,823 patients across 5 racial groups enrolled between 2020 and 2024. Eight primary analyses were conducted, including age-sex standardized overdose rates, temporal disparity trends, medication-assisted treat