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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Substance use and misuse

Regional and Rural–Urban Variation in Opioid Prescribing in the Veterans Health Administration
Examines geographic variation in opioid prescribing patterns at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, including by region and for rural and urban veterans. Addresses opioids prescribed per capita, prescription incidence, length of use, and prevalence of use. Includes a chart showing rural/urban per capita prescriptions over time.
Author(s): Brian C. Lund, Michael E. Ohl, Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Hilary J. Mosher
Citation: Military Medicine
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
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Improving the Health of Alaska Native People Through Use of a Policy Change Model and Capacity Building
Examines efforts by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in 2014-2017 to promote health and wellness through policy, systems, and environmental strategies. Describes a model outlining steps for policy change, including engaging the community, building support, and assessing education and outreach needed for decision makers and the public.
Author(s): Diane Redwood, Kristen Mitchell-Box, Erin Peterson, Ellen Provost
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
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Understanding the Public Health Consequences of Suspending a Rural Syringe Services Program: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of People Who Inject Drugs
Details a study on the public health outcomes associated with discontinuing syringe services programs (SSPs) in rural areas where people who inject drugs (PWIDs) are prevalent. Focuses on the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department in West Virginia.
Author(s): Sean T. Allen, Suzanne M. Grieb, Allison O'Rourke, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 16
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
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Briefing - Expanding the Role of Nurse Practitioners
Webinar recording and slides on expanding the role of nurse practitioners, focusing on models from Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico, and what California can learn from them. Includes information on nurse practitioners providing care in rural and frontier areas, as well as what they are doing to help combat the opioid epidemic.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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Opioids in Appalachia: The Role of Counties in Reversing a Regional Epidemic
Details the state of the opioid epidemic in Appalachia and presents recommendations to help county leaders respond to the opioid crisis. Features individual county case studies highlighting the challenges and strategies in addressing the opioid crisis.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Spotlight on North Carolina: Best Practices and Next Steps in the Opioid Epidemic
Discusses the best practices for addressing the opioid epidemic in North Carolina. Details methods for increasing access to naloxone, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and non-opioid comprehensive pain care.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Medical Association, Manatt Health, North Carolina Medical Society
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An Update on the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis: One Year Later
Report details a one year update to the Trump Administration President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Highlighted the commission's accomplishments and examined its initial objectives. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The White House
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Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Cocaine and Psychostimulants with Abuse Potential — United States, 2003–2017
Reports age-adjusted death rates in 2016 and 2017 for cocaine and psychostimulants, with information by age group, sex, race/ethnicity, urbanization level, U.S. Census region, and state. Includes data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and non-core counties. Provides national-level trend data for 2003-2017 on deaths related to these substances that also involved opioids and that did not involve opioids.
Author(s): Mbabazi Kariisa, Lawrence Scholl, Nana Wilson, Puja Seth, Brooke Hoots
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(17), 388-395
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Pain Management for People with Serious Illness in the Context of the Opioid Use Disorder Epidemic: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a workshop with multiple stakeholders discussing pain management in the context of the opioid misuse epidemic. Reviews the opioid epidemic, how responses to it have affected people with serious illness and pain, the pain management needs of people with substance use disorder, policy responses, and next steps. Includes a few examples from rural areas and addresses some challenges specific to rural.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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2019 Arizona State Health Assessment
Presents county-level data on a variety of health measures in Arizona, covering maternal and infant health, child and adolescent health, health conditions in adults, healthy aging, and targeted population health for tribal communities, veterans, and border health. Examines community-level health and economic data and public health capacity to address health issues. Updated every 5 years.
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Health Services
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