Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
Rural and Urban Availability of Substance Use Treatment Facilities
Discusses the national availability of and regional variance in substance use disorder treatment facilities for rural and urban residents. Highlights the number of facilities per 100,000 population by rural status and county, as well as the number of facilities offering medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Discusses the national availability of and regional variance in substance use disorder treatment facilities for rural and urban residents. Highlights the number of facilities per 100,000 population by rural status and county, as well as the number of facilities offering medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Buprenorphine Dispensed by Pharmacies and Administered in Emergency Departments in Urban and Rural Areas — United States, 2019–2025
Reports on how the provision of buprenorphine in pharmacies and emergency departments varied by rural or urban area between 2019 and 2025. Includes rural and urban data comparisons on the frequency of dispensing or administering buprenorphine, dosing, prescribing, availability, and more, including year-by-year comparisons.
Author(s): Gery P. Guy Jr., Yijie Chen, Kun Zhang, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(33), 522-528
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on how the provision of buprenorphine in pharmacies and emergency departments varied by rural or urban area between 2019 and 2025. Includes rural and urban data comparisons on the frequency of dispensing or administering buprenorphine, dosing, prescribing, availability, and more, including year-by-year comparisons.
Author(s): Gery P. Guy Jr., Yijie Chen, Kun Zhang, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(33), 522-528
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) Detailed Tables - 2025
Explores 2025 survey data on use of prescription and illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, trends in substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status.
Additional links: Methodological Summary and Definitions - 2025
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Explores 2025 survey data on use of prescription and illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, trends in substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status.
Additional links: Methodological Summary and Definitions - 2025
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Postoperative Pain Management in Rural Communities
Describes the University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence's approach to addressing opioid overprescribing after surgery. Discusses topics including provider engagement, patient empowerment and effective communication strategies, and rural implementation concerns.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence
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Describes the University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence's approach to addressing opioid overprescribing after surgery. Discusses topics including provider engagement, patient empowerment and effective communication strategies, and rural implementation concerns.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence
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Transitions from First Drug Use to Illicit Opioid and Injection Drug Use in a Multisite Rural U.S. Cohort of People Who Use Drugs
Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
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Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
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Comparing the Care, Distance Traveled, and Health Workforce Clinician Mix for Rural and Urban Commercially Insured Enrollees With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Comparing the Care and Distance Traveled by Rural and Urban Children and Adolescents with Medicaid Insurance and Opioid Use Disorder
Presents a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and enrolled in Medicaid in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Presents a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and enrolled in Medicaid in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural-Urban Variation in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Access among Commercially Insured Children and Adolescents
Details a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and covered by commercial insurance in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, provider type, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Details a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and covered by commercial insurance in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, provider type, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Post-Hospital Access to Preferred and High-Quality Skilled Nursing Facilities for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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Comparing the Care and Distance Traveled by Rural and Urban Medicaid Beneficiaries With Opioid Use Disorder
Results of a study describing the treatment for rural and urban Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder in 2019. Features demographics and statistics on number of visits and travel time and distance, with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Results of a study describing the treatment for rural and urban Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder in 2019. Features demographics and statistics on number of visits and travel time and distance, with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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