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Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.

Characteristics of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Evaluated for Substance Use and Treatment Planning — United States, 2019
Examines past 30-day substance use patterns for alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, illicit stimulants, heroin, illicit fentanyl, prescription opioid misuse, prescription stimulant misuse, and prescription sedative, tranquilizer, and sleeping pill use. Also looks at the severity of problems experienced in these areas: alcohol, drug, employment, family, legal, medical, and psychiatric issues. Includes data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Akadia Kacha-Ochana, Christopher M. Jones, Jody L. Green, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(23), 749-756
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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A Rural Community's Perspective on the Causes of and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis in Southern Virginia: A Qualitative Study
Results of a study to gain insight into the perceptions, knowledge, and experiences of members of a southern Virginia rural community affected by the opioid crisis, to inform the development of local strategies to address the problem. Examines barriers and facilitators to treatment programs and offers recommendations for targeting populations at risk.
Author(s): Angelina J. Hargrove, Carlin Rafie, Emily Zimmerman, Dawn E. Moser
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 22(2), 7152
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
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Pain in the Nation: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths - Special Feature: Two Decades of the Drug Overdose Crisis
Highlights the rates of drug, alcohol, and suicide deaths in the U.S. in 2020 and from 1999 to 2020. Explores the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on deaths of despair and the state of the ongoing opioid crisis. Breaks down data by age, region, and rurality, among other measures.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Summit Equips Participants to Take Action on Health Inequity and Stigma Related to Substance Use Disorder in Rural Communities
Highlights the Taking Action National Rural Substance Use Disorder Health Equity and Stigma Summit hosted by the University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence on May 18-20, 2022. Includes select presentation recordings and resources related to rural substance use disorder (SUD) care, overdose prevention, addressing stigma, and other related topics.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence
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Expanded Naloxone Distribution to Reduce Rural Opioid Overdose Mortality
Discusses a study on the effect community-based and pharmacy-initiated naloxone distribution has had on rates of rural opioid overdose mortality. Highlights an intervention that expands naloxone access points in rural communities and pharmacies in addition to traditional provider-based treatment.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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National Drug Control Strategy
Report highlights the Biden Administration's overall strategy for controlling drug use across the country. Addresses harm reduction, prevention, and education, as well as increasing access to treatment in rural, tribal, and underserved areas.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of National Drug Control Policy
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Assessment of Community-Level Vulnerability and Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Study examining access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in relation to social vulnerability to disasters based on zip code tabulation data (ZCTA) for 32,434 counties in the continental U.S. Discusses differences in geographic access to MOUD for rural and urban areas and the potential impacts of disasters on that access, highlighting potential interventions to bolster access to treatment.
Author(s): Paul J. Joudrey, Marynia Kolak, Qinyun Lin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(4), e227028
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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Oversight: The Opioid Crisis in Tribal Communities
Recording of a U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing focused on the opioid crisis in tribal communities. Includes testimonies from representatives of the Cherokee Nation, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, the Border Patrol Council, and the Riverside-San Bernardino Indian Health.
Additional links: Art Del Cueto Testimony, Chuck Hoskin, Jr. Testimony, Maureen Rosette Testimony, Wayne Cortez Testimony, YouTube Recording
Date: 04/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Impact of Telemedicine on Retention in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Treatment with Buprenorphine in the Times of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Chart Review
Study examining treatment retention for medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) patients via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on electronic health records of patients at a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Pennsylvania. Discusses the impacts of telemedicine on retention rates, COVID-19-related challenges to treatment delivery systems, and policy measures to support telehealth and MOUD interventions.
Author(s): Jagdeep Kaur, Irakli Mania, Raghavendra Tirupathi, Lakshmi Polavarapu
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health, 46(2), 75-81
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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Strengthening Federal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Programs: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Issues
Presents a full committee hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discussing the current state of federal mental health and substance use disorder programs. Features testimonies from representatives of the Heath Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Additional links: Carole Johnson Testimony, Joshua A. Gordon Testimony, Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon Testimony, Nora D. Volkow Testimony
Date: 03/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Last Updated: 6/11/2024