Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Expanding the Opioid Use Disorder Medication Treatment Workforce in Rural Communities Through the RCORP Initiative
Examines the impact of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) on the workforce supply of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-waivered clinicians in rural areas, who are able to prescribe buprenorphine. Analyzes 2017–2022 DEA lists of waivered clinicians to report on counties with a waivered clinician, clinician-to-population ratios, and treatment slot-to-population ratios. Discusses the impact of RCORP funding on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) recovery services in rural communities.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Kathleen Meyers, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12867
Date: 2025
Type: Document
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Examines the impact of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) on the workforce supply of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-waivered clinicians in rural areas, who are able to prescribe buprenorphine. Analyzes 2017–2022 DEA lists of waivered clinicians to report on counties with a waivered clinician, clinician-to-population ratios, and treatment slot-to-population ratios. Discusses the impact of RCORP funding on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) recovery services in rural communities.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Kathleen Meyers, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12867
Date: 2025
Type: Document
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Understanding MAT Access in the Context of Unused MAT Capacity in the United States: When Increasing Rural MAT Capacity is Not Enough
Examines the factors related to buprenorphine prescriptions to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and the impacts of the federal DATA waiver to increase provider capacity. Utilizes multiple data sources to describe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) capacity, access, barriers, availability of MAT, and service area need in rural areas.
Author(s): Carolyn Carpenedo Mun, Rachel Zambrano, Eileen Tallman, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, 47
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Examines the factors related to buprenorphine prescriptions to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and the impacts of the federal DATA waiver to increase provider capacity. Utilizes multiple data sources to describe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) capacity, access, barriers, availability of MAT, and service area need in rural areas.
Author(s): Carolyn Carpenedo Mun, Rachel Zambrano, Eileen Tallman, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, 47
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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The Effects of Message Framing on US Police Chiefs' Support for Interventions for Opioid Use Disorder: A Randomized Survey Experiment
Examines how U.S. police chiefs frame cultural messages surrounding opioid use disorder interventions and the focus on public health and harm reduction versus public safety. Analyzes data from 276 police chiefs related to overdose prevention centers, syringe service programs (SSPs), Good Samaritan laws, Narcan distribution, collaboration for public health and safety, and acceptance of officers in recovery. Includes demographic breakdowns of police chiefs, such as region, urbanicity, and population per officer.
Author(s): Brandon del Pozo, Saba Rouhani, Amelia Bailey, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice, 12, 50
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Examines how U.S. police chiefs frame cultural messages surrounding opioid use disorder interventions and the focus on public health and harm reduction versus public safety. Analyzes data from 276 police chiefs related to overdose prevention centers, syringe service programs (SSPs), Good Samaritan laws, Narcan distribution, collaboration for public health and safety, and acceptance of officers in recovery. Includes demographic breakdowns of police chiefs, such as region, urbanicity, and population per officer.
Author(s): Brandon del Pozo, Saba Rouhani, Amelia Bailey, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice, 12, 50
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Perceptions of Substance Use Disorder in Rural Areas: How the Brain Disease Model Impacts Public Stigma
Presents a study on substance use disorder (SUD) stigma in rural communities by comparing the results from a 2020 study to a survey conducted in 2023. Explores rural perceptions in SUD as a legitimate illness and discusses perceptions of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and SUD treatment and recovery.
Author(s): Erin E. Miller, Sarah Schweitzer, Patricia Ahmed, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3531
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Presents a study on substance use disorder (SUD) stigma in rural communities by comparing the results from a 2020 study to a survey conducted in 2023. Explores rural perceptions in SUD as a legitimate illness and discusses perceptions of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and SUD treatment and recovery.
Author(s): Erin E. Miller, Sarah Schweitzer, Patricia Ahmed, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3531
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Pharmacy-Based Preventive Services for Opioid Use Disorder: A Survey of U.S. Pharmacists
Examines pharmacist perceptions related to addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in their patients. Utilizes online survey data from 1,146 pharmacists to analyze pharmacist concerns about drug use; drug screenings, interventions, and referrals; and commitment and readiness to address OUD and SUD in their patients. Includes breakdowns of pharmacist demographics as well as rurality of pharmacy locations.
Author(s): Li-Tzy Wu, Jacquie King, Kathryn Hefner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 88
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Examines pharmacist perceptions related to addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in their patients. Utilizes online survey data from 1,146 pharmacists to analyze pharmacist concerns about drug use; drug screenings, interventions, and referrals; and commitment and readiness to address OUD and SUD in their patients. Includes breakdowns of pharmacist demographics as well as rurality of pharmacy locations.
Author(s): Li-Tzy Wu, Jacquie King, Kathryn Hefner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 88
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Differences in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Testing and Treatment by Opioid, Stimulant, and Polysubstance Use among People Who Use Drugs in Rural U.S. Communities
Examines hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in rural people who use drugs (PWUD) when drug combinations are used. Analyzes 2,705 PWUD across 10 rural communities in the U.S. from 2018-2020 for drug use combinations, testing, treatment, and more.
Author(s): Angela T. Estadt, David Kline, William C. Miller, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 214
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Examines hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in rural people who use drugs (PWUD) when drug combinations are used. Analyzes 2,705 PWUD across 10 rural communities in the U.S. from 2018-2020 for drug use combinations, testing, treatment, and more.
Author(s): Angela T. Estadt, David Kline, William C. Miller, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 214
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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A Case Report on a Women's Residential Substance Use Program in a Rural and Urban Setting
Explores the characteristics and outcomes of residential substance use recovery programs for parenting and pregnant women in rural and urban counties in Kentucky. Breaks down participant data by age, race, number of children, and location in a rural or urban area, among other measures.
Author(s): Deborah Winders Davis, Yana Feygin, Madeline Shipley, et al.
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 28, pages 1870–1875
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
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Explores the characteristics and outcomes of residential substance use recovery programs for parenting and pregnant women in rural and urban counties in Kentucky. Breaks down participant data by age, race, number of children, and location in a rural or urban area, among other measures.
Author(s): Deborah Winders Davis, Yana Feygin, Madeline Shipley, et al.
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 28, pages 1870–1875
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
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Changing Dynamics in the Opioid Crisis Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines trends in the opioid crisis during the 2019-2022 COVID-19 pandemic period. Includes data on drug types and overdose deaths by age, race/ethnicity, state, and urbanization of large metro, small/medium metro, or non-metro location.
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Examines trends in the opioid crisis during the 2019-2022 COVID-19 pandemic period. Includes data on drug types and overdose deaths by age, race/ethnicity, state, and urbanization of large metro, small/medium metro, or non-metro location.
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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2023 Report to Congress on the State Opioid Response Grants (SOR)
Report details the outcomes of state opioid response (SOR) grants to Congress. Highlights demographic breakdown of people served by SOR programs and discusses key accomplishments by state/territory. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report details the outcomes of state opioid response (SOR) grants to Congress. Highlights demographic breakdown of people served by SOR programs and discusses key accomplishments by state/territory. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Last Updated: 1/10/2025