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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Substance use and misuse

Local Initiatives to Address Opioid Use Disorder
Describes opioid prevention and treatment research collaboratives in 6 communities, some of which are rural. Provides links to articles profiling each program in detail.
Sponsoring organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Cancer
Provides data and maps reflecting cancer incidence and mortality, comparing rural, nonmetro urban, and metro counties. Explores urban and rural disparities regarding cancer type, access to healthcare for rural residents, risk factors for cancer incidence, and preventative care.
Sponsoring organization: National Cancer Institute
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Rural Responses to the Opioid Epidemic
Provides resources and information related to a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to work with targeted rural communities through data sharing, educational programming, and therapy services to respond to opioid use disorder (OUD) at the community level, focusing on individuals who become involved with the criminal justice system or law enforcement. Website includes a map of the targeted sites with information on partners and responses, and offers published reports and resources.
Sponsoring organizations: Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program, U.S. Department of Justice
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PubMed Search: Opioid Use in Rural Areas
Searches PubMed's collection of journal article citations on the opioid epidemic, opioid use, and opioid use disorder treatment in rural areas.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. National Library of Medicine
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Brandeis Opioid Resource Connector
Collection of community-based program models, data and mapping information, and other resources for communities to reduce opioid addiction and overdose. Program models cover prevention, harm recovery, recovery, and treatment, and can be filtered by setting to select rural-specific examples.
Sponsoring organization: Opioid Policy Research Collaborative
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UNC Project ECHO
Offers live, web-based sessions where clinical specialists work with healthcare providers, and community and state partners to develop learning communities, facilitate reflective assessment, discuss evidence-based care and methods to address barriers to treatment, and expand access to life saving MAT in North Carolina. Continuing medical education (CME) credits are provided to participants and free DATA 2000 waiver training.
Sponsoring organization: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Wisconsin Project ECHO Series
A statewide educational initiative connecting clinical experts with primary care providers and medication assisted treatment (MAT) prescribers across Wisconsin in an effort to reduce substance-related complications. Via a regularly scheduled videoconference, a multidisciplinary panel of specialists provide education and lead a collaborative discussion on submitted patient cases.
Sponsoring organizations: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
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PLACES: Local Data for Better Health
Interactive mapping system providing chronic disease related data at the county, place, census tract, and ZIP code level. Covers measures related to health status, health outcomes, prevention, health risk behaviors, health-related social needs, and social determinants of health.
Additional links: Compare Measures, Interactive Map, PLACES Data Portal
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Southern New Mexico Outcomes
Series of publications reporting on the Center for Health Innovation's HRSA-funded work with 16 southern New Mexico counties and the rural-designated Torrance and Valencia regions on opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery. Publications include a needs assessment, strategic plan, workforce plan, and sustainability plan.
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Rural Community Toolbox: Funding & Resources for Rural Communities to Address Substance Abuse
Provides access to federal funding programs and information resources related to substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), to help rural communities and stakeholders address SUD, OUD, and issues related to substance misuse in their communities. Features an overdose mapping tool that provides state- and county-level data on overdose deaths.
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Justice
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