Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use
Traffic Safety in Appalachia: Final Report
Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Opioid and Substance Use Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals
Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid and substance use disorders (O/SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of O/SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid and substance use disorders (O/SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of O/SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Projected Estimates of Opioid Mortality After Community-Level Interventions
Presents a study on the effectiveness of different evidence-based practices to prevent opioid overdose mortality in simulated rural and urban communities. Highlights data by evidence-based practice and by projected rural and urban population group, which is broken down by age, sex, and opioid injection versus non-injection.
Author(s): Benjamin P. Linas, Alexandra Savinkina, R. W. M. A. Madushani, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(2), e2037259
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
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Presents a study on the effectiveness of different evidence-based practices to prevent opioid overdose mortality in simulated rural and urban communities. Highlights data by evidence-based practice and by projected rural and urban population group, which is broken down by age, sex, and opioid injection versus non-injection.
Author(s): Benjamin P. Linas, Alexandra Savinkina, R. W. M. A. Madushani, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(2), e2037259
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
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Opioid-Related Visits to Rural Emergency Departments
Explores the impact of the opioid crisis on rural emergency departments (EDs) by analyzing 2006 and 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data. Compares opioid-related ED visits in rural and urban hospitals by type of opioid involved and year. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, comorbid diagnosis at admission, and outcome of ED visit.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jean A. Talbot, Deborah Thayer, Carly Milkowski
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Explores the impact of the opioid crisis on rural emergency departments (EDs) by analyzing 2006 and 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data. Compares opioid-related ED visits in rural and urban hospitals by type of opioid involved and year. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, comorbid diagnosis at admission, and outcome of ED visit.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jean A. Talbot, Deborah Thayer, Carly Milkowski
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Opioid-Related and Stimulant-Related Adult Inpatient Stays, 2012-2018
Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays related to the dependence, abuse, and adverse effects of opioids and stimulants between 2012 and 2018. Examines data by patient characteristics, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, urban or rural location of residence, and income.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays related to the dependence, abuse, and adverse effects of opioids and stimulants between 2012 and 2018. Examines data by patient characteristics, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, urban or rural location of residence, and income.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Socioenvironmental Risk Factors for Adolescent Marijuana Use in a United States-Mexico Border Community
Reports on a study of predominantly Hispanic high school students in a rural border community, examining community and immigration-related stress, normalized drug trafficking, and negative perceptions of their neighborhood. Discusses the link between these socioenvironmental risk factors and tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use, as well as implications for health promotion and public health practitioners.
Author(s): Elizabeth Salerno Valdez, Luis Valdez, Josephine Korchmaros, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Health Promotion, 35(1), 20-27
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Reports on a study of predominantly Hispanic high school students in a rural border community, examining community and immigration-related stress, normalized drug trafficking, and negative perceptions of their neighborhood. Discusses the link between these socioenvironmental risk factors and tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use, as well as implications for health promotion and public health practitioners.
Author(s): Elizabeth Salerno Valdez, Luis Valdez, Josephine Korchmaros, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Health Promotion, 35(1), 20-27
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Emergency Medical Service Providers Perceptions on the Causes of and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis: A Qualitative Assessment
Study examining the perspectives of rural emergency medical service (EMS) providers on key issues related to the opioid crisis, including prescription, ease of access to opioids, socioeconomic vulnerability, mental health, and lack of alternative treatment options. Discusses qualitative data taken from 123 surveys addressing perceived causes and solutions to the crisis.
Author(s): Heather Blue, Ashley Dahly, Susan Chhen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 12, 2150132720987715
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Study examining the perspectives of rural emergency medical service (EMS) providers on key issues related to the opioid crisis, including prescription, ease of access to opioids, socioeconomic vulnerability, mental health, and lack of alternative treatment options. Discusses qualitative data taken from 123 surveys addressing perceived causes and solutions to the crisis.
Author(s): Heather Blue, Ashley Dahly, Susan Chhen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 12, 2150132720987715
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Harm Reduction and Adaptations Among PWUD in Rural Oregon During COVID-19
Presents a study on harm reduction practices during the COVID-19 pandemic for people who use drugs (PWUDs) in rural Oregon. Bases findings on interviews with PWUDs in 5 rural counties. Breaks down data by gender, race, and drugs used. Discusses the effect of COVID-19 on syringe service programs in rural areas.
Author(s): Andrew Seaman, Gillian Leichtling, Erin Stack, et al.
Citation: AIDS and Behavior, 25(5), 1331–1339
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Presents a study on harm reduction practices during the COVID-19 pandemic for people who use drugs (PWUDs) in rural Oregon. Bases findings on interviews with PWUDs in 5 rural counties. Breaks down data by gender, race, and drugs used. Discusses the effect of COVID-19 on syringe service programs in rural areas.
Author(s): Andrew Seaman, Gillian Leichtling, Erin Stack, et al.
Citation: AIDS and Behavior, 25(5), 1331–1339
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Patient Satisfaction with Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment via Telemedicine: Brief Literature Review and Development of a New Assessment
Study assessing patient satisfaction with telemedicine-delivered medications for opioid use disorder (tMOUD). Discusses barriers to delivery of medications for opioid use disorder in rural areas. Offers a literature review and pilot survey data from 65 patients at a treatment clinic on Maryland's Eastern Shore, addressing future directions for telemedicine use in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment programs.
Author(s): Thomas O. Cole, Darlene Robinson, Andrea Kelley-Freeman, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 557275
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Study assessing patient satisfaction with telemedicine-delivered medications for opioid use disorder (tMOUD). Discusses barriers to delivery of medications for opioid use disorder in rural areas. Offers a literature review and pilot survey data from 65 patients at a treatment clinic on Maryland's Eastern Shore, addressing future directions for telemedicine use in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment programs.
Author(s): Thomas O. Cole, Darlene Robinson, Andrea Kelley-Freeman, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 557275
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder May Reduce Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect
Highlights a study on the correlation between opioid use disorder (OUD) and child maltreatment. Specifically, the effect buprenorphine treatment for OUD has on rates of maltreatment. Discusses challenges and considerations for rural areas.
Author(s): Robin Ghertner, Mir M. Ali
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Highlights a study on the correlation between opioid use disorder (OUD) and child maltreatment. Specifically, the effect buprenorphine treatment for OUD has on rates of maltreatment. Discusses challenges and considerations for rural areas.
Author(s): Robin Ghertner, Mir M. Ali
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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