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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use

Understanding MAT Access in the Context of Unused MAT Capacity in the United States: When Increasing Rural MAT Capacity is Not Enough
Examines the factors related to buprenorphine prescriptions to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and the impacts of the federal DATA waiver to increase provider capacity. Utilizes multiple data sources to describe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) capacity, access, barriers, availability of MAT, and service area need in rural areas.
Author(s): Carolyn Carpenedo Mun, Rachel Zambrano, Eileen Tallman, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, 47
Date: 12/2024
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The Effects of Message Framing on US Police Chiefs' Support for Interventions for Opioid Use Disorder: A Randomized Survey Experiment
Examines how U.S. police chiefs frame cultural messages surrounding opioid use disorder interventions and the focus on public health and harm reduction versus public safety. Analyzes data from 276 police chiefs related to overdose prevention centers, syringe service programs (SSPs), Good Samaritan laws, Narcan distribution, collaboration for public health and safety, and acceptance of officers in recovery. Includes demographic breakdowns of police chiefs, such as region, urbanicity, and population per officer.
Author(s): Brandon del Pozo, Saba Rouhani, Amelia Bailey, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice, 12, 50
Date: 12/2024
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Perceptions of Substance Use Disorder in Rural Areas: How the Brain Disease Model Impacts Public Stigma
Presents a study on substance use disorder (SUD) stigma in rural communities by comparing the results from a 2020 study to a survey conducted in 2023. Explores rural perceptions in SUD as a legitimate illness and discusses perceptions of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and SUD treatment and recovery.
Author(s): Erin E. Miller, Sarah Schweitzer, Patricia Ahmed, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3531
Date: 12/2024
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Buprenorphine Injection Among Rural Persons Who Inject Drugs
Describes buprenorphine use by rural people who inject drugs, using data from the Rural Opioid Initiative, to inform patient-clinician discussions and public health interventions. Features demographics and behavioral characteristics of 2,369 people who were surveyed between 2018-2020.
Author(s): Kaitlin A. Zinsli, Elenore P. Bhatraju, Judith Feinberg, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(12), e2450108
Date: 12/2024
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Jail-Based Interventions to Reduce Risk for Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths: Examples of Implementation within Ohio Counties Participating in the HEALing Communities Study
Examines implementation barriers and successes of jail-based interventions to reduce post-release opioid overdose deaths in 1 rural and 2 urban Ohio counties. Details how the counties, which were participants in the HEALing Communities Study, applied evidence-based practices (EBPs) including medications to reduce opioid use disorder (MOUD), overdose education, provision of naloxone, and more. Identifies rural-specific challenges.
Author(s): Joel Sprunger, Jennifer Brown, Sofia Rubi, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice, 12, 48
Date: 12/2024
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Pharmacy-Based Preventive Services for Opioid Use Disorder: A Survey of U.S. Pharmacists
Examines pharmacist perceptions related to addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in their patients. Utilizes online survey data from 1,146 pharmacists to analyze pharmacist concerns about drug use; drug screenings, interventions, and referrals; and commitment and readiness to address OUD and SUD in their patients. Includes breakdowns of pharmacist demographics as well as rurality of pharmacy locations.
Author(s): Li-Tzy Wu, Jacquie King, Kathryn Hefner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 88
Date: 12/2024
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Improving Access to Buprenorphine for Rural Veterans in a Learning Health Care System
Describes the development of a implementation strategy to increase rural buprenorphine prescribing at U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare systems based on existing successful strategies in 6 rural VAs. Discusses clinical needs to support increased prescribing related to mentorship, consulting services, and practitioner education.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Katherine Mackey, Kim A. Kauzlarich, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(S2), e14346
Date: 12/2024
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Rural Health Webinar Series November 2024
Webinar series discussing rural health issues on topics including social connectedness, digital literacy and internet access, physical activity, community partnerships, graphic medicine, and opioid use. Webinars listed in the "Previous Classes" tab.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Network of the National Library of Medicine
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Differences in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Testing and Treatment by Opioid, Stimulant, and Polysubstance Use among People Who Use Drugs in Rural U.S. Communities
Examines hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in rural people who use drugs (PWUD) when drug combinations are used. Analyzes 2,705 PWUD across 10 rural communities in the U.S. from 2018-2020 for drug use combinations, testing, treatment, and more.
Author(s): Angela T. Estadt, David Kline, William C. Miller, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 214
Date: 11/2024
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Analysis of Different Populations Accessing Online Overdose Response Training and Harm Reduction Supplies (ADORES)
Compares demographic groups accessing an online mail order naloxone and harm reduction supply via the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy (UNIV) website versus the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH) website. Analyzes website data from June 2020 through October 2023 to compare 1,662 UNIV and 4,121 DOH mail order request forms according to requestor's race/ethnicity, sex, age, income, rural versus urban location, and harm reduction supply type.
Author(s): Michaela Pacheco, Abiodun Ologunowa, Anita Jacobson
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 202
Date: 11/2024
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