Timing of buprenorphine adoption by privately funded substance abuse treatment programs: The role of institutional and resource-based interorganizational linkages

Identifying facilitators of more rapid buprenorphine adoption may increase access to this effective treatment for opioid dependence. Using a diffusion of innovations theoretical framework, we examine the extent to which programs' interorganizational institutional and resource-based linkages predict the likelihood of being an earlier adopter, later adopter, or nonadopter of buprenorphine. Data were derived from face-to-face interviews with administrators of 345 privately funded substance abuse treatment programs in 2007-2008. Results of multinomial logistic regression models show that interorganizational and resource linkages were associated with timing of adoption. Programs reporting membership in provider associations were more likely to be earlier adopters of buprenorphine. Programs that relied more on resource linkages, such as detailing activities by pharmaceutical companies and the National Institute on Drug Abuse website, were more likely to be earlier adopters of buprenorphine. These findings suggest that institutional and resource-based interorganizational linkages may expose programs to effective treatments, thereby facilitating more rapid and sustained adoption of innovative treatment techniques.