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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use

Rural Community Health Initiative: Compendium of Best Practices
Presents a collection of community-based health initiatives, including a school health initiative, a COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education program, and telehealth consortia, among others. Describes successful outcomes and sources of funding for each program.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Outcomes from the Medication Assisted Treatment Pilot Program for Adults with Opioid Use Disorders in Rural Colorado
Examines the efficacy of a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) pilot program in two rural Colorado counties. Details the structure and setting of the program, patient characteristics and outcomes, and the limitations of the program.
Author(s): Claudia R. Amura, Tanya R. Sorrell, Mary Weber, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 17(1)
Date: 01/2022
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Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Arkansas 2022
Provides state, region, and county-level data for Arkansas related to substance abuse by youth. Identifies risk factors associated with drug and alcohol abuse, such as the number of arrests, unemployment, school infractions, and more, as well as associated public health outcomes.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training
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Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Improving Access through Regulatory and Legal Change: Proceedings of a Workshop
Offers proceedings from the March 2022 workshop, Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Examining Federal Regulations and Laws. Covered topics include personal perspectives on methadone treatment, access and barriers to access for rural and other underserved populations, and federal policies and regulatory flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Sciences Policy, Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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State Policy Changes Could Increase Access to Opioid Treatment via Telehealth
Issue brief discussing barriers to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment via telehealth and policy recommendations to support telehealth, including reimbursement and regulatory policies. Discusses issues of broadband access, infrastructure, and data collection in relation to telehealth implementation.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
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Opioid Use Disorder: Opportunities to Improve Assessments of State Opioid Response Grant Program
Provides an overview of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program and examines how SAMHSA assesses the program. Offers recommendations to SAMHSA to identify potential limitations in its analyses and provide a more comprehensive assessment of the program to identify opportunities for improvement. Includes SOR grant funding awards by state for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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A Cross-Sectional Survey of Potential Factors, Motivations, and Barriers Influencing Research Participation and Retention Among People Who Use Drugs in the Rural USA
Study examining research participation and retention among rural people who use drugs (PWUD) based on surveys of 255 research cohort members from Oregon, Kentucky, and Ohio. Examines participant demographics, drug use history, factors influencing research participation, and barriers and motivators related to research retention.
Author(s): Angela T. Hetrick, April M. Young, Miriam R. Elman, et al.
Citation: Trials, 22, 948
Date: 12/2021
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Rural Opioid Treatment Program Patient Perspectives on Take-Home Methadone Policy Changes During COVID-19: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Examines patient perspectives following policy changes in take-home methadone treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), based on qualitative interviews with 46 patients from 3 rural opioid treatment programs in Oregon. Highlights main themes related to adapting to the changing policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges and benefits of at-home dosing, and future policy and procedural changes.
Author(s): Ximena A. Levander, Kim A. Hoffman, John W. McIlveen, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 16, 72
Date: 12/2021
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Practical Tools for Prescribing and Promoting Buprenorphine in Primary Care Settings
Offers evidence-based information to support primary care providers in prescribing buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Addresses strategies and considerations for primary care providers and practices looking to implement the treatment, including the phases of care, training and education, and payment and pharmacy considerations. Chapter 2.7 covers buprenorphine prescribing in rural settings.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Robustness of Estimated Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Providers in Rural Vs. Urban Areas of the United States
Estimates level of access to opioid use disorder treatment at 31,053 locations in July 2020 for rural and urban opioid users by comparing drive time and availability of treatment. Discusses treatment disparities between rural and urban opioid users with particular focus on infrastructure such as transportation and broadband, hospital closures, and health insurance status.
Author(s): Matthew V. Kiang, Michael L. Barnett, Sarah E. Wakeman, Keith Humphreys, Alexander C. Tsai
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 228, 109081
Date: 11/2021
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