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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Prescription drug misuse

Geographic Trends in Opioid Overdoses in the US From 1999 to 2020
Results of a study examining trends in opioid-involved overdose death (OOD) rates in urban and rural counties. Explores OODs due to overprescription of opioids, use of heroin and illicit synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and stimulants in combination with synthetic opioids. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density.
Author(s): Lori Ann Post, Alexander Lundberg, Charles B. Moss, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(7)
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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Fighting Fentanyl: The Federal Response to a Growing Crisis
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on the government's response to the fentanyl crisis. Includes testimonies from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy regarding current efforts to address the expanding use of fentanyl across the U.S.
Additional links: Carole Johnson Testimony, Christopher Jones Testimony, Kemp Chester Testimony, Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon Testimony
Date: 07/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Responding to a Surge in Overdose Deaths: Perspectives From US Syringe Services Programs
Highlights a study on the perspectives of syringe service program (SSP) leadership and staff regarding overdose deaths in the US. Bases conclusions on interviews done from February to March of 2021 and breaks down participant data by geographic region, distribution approach, and rurality, among others factors.
Author(s): Madeline C. Frost, Elizabeth J. Austin, Maria A. Corcorran, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19, 79
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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UVM CORA Community Rounds: Strategies for Distributing Naloxone to Rural Communities
Webinar recording discusses rural opioid overdoses and methods for distributing naloxone to prevent overdoses. Explores the use of data, technology, and working with emergency services partners to deliver naloxone to people at risk of overdosing, among other factors.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Author(s): Geoff Capraro, Brooke A. Lawrence
Date: 07/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Wiping Away the Tears: Addressing Increasing Death in Rural America
Examines rural mortality trends and discusses the impact of the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic, as well as rural maternal and infant mortality. Describes federally-funded efforts to address rural disparities.
Author(s): Whitney Zahnd
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Barriers and Facilitators Associated With Establishment of Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Maine
Presents a study on the barriers and facilitators for implementing programs that initiate buprenorphine treatment for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) seeking care in critical access hospital (CAH) emergency departments (EDs) in rural Maine. Highlights findings of a survey of CAH ED directors on the challenges of implementing buprenorphine initiation programs.
Author(s): Noah K. Rosenberg, Alexander B. Hill, Lily Johnsky, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(3), 612-619
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
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Introduction to Improving Telehealth and Virtual Care for Pain Management and Opioid/ Substance Use Disorder
Presents the proceedings of a meeting discussing the use of telehealth and virtual care to treat substance use disorder (SUD), opioid use disorder (OUD), and to monitor pain management. Highlights the effect the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth use, regulation, and reimbursement. Features considerations for rural communities.
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Rural Health in Connecticut A Comprehensive Review of Social Determinants, Community Resources, Health Outcomes, and Wellbeing
Documents the nature of public health for Connecticut's rural populations with a focus on trends, to understand how these populations are changing. Features chapters on social determinants of health, healthcare systems, health risks and behaviors, and health outcomes.
Author(s): Kelly Davila, Camille Seaberry
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: DataHaven
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Medicaid & State Telehealth Policy – Medicaid Telehealth Policy & Substance Use Disorder
Webinar covering state and federal Medicaid telehealth policy for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). Offers an overview of telehealth, its expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its application in SUD treatment with examples from Arkansas and Philadelphia. Also covers research on disparities in drug-related mortality and access to treatment during the pandemic. Captions are available by clicking "CC" at the bottom of the video pane.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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State of the State: An Update on Illinois' Opioid Statistics
Presents Illinois opioid statistics as well as national statistics. Includes 2019-2021 Illinois opioid fatality rate by rural, small urban, suburban, and urban county. Presents statewide overdose data by substance type as well as specifically opioid overdose data by user age and user race/ethnicity.
Author(s): Jennifer Epstein
Date: 06/2022
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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