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Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources

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

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Substance Use, Substance Use Disorders, and Substance Use Treatment Utilization among People Aged 12 or Older (2015-2019)
Report showing rates of substance use, substance use disorders, and substance use treatment utilization by race and ethnicity, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Breaks down data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019.
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Behavioral Health Equity Report 2021
Provides a breakdown and discussion of data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019. Details youth and adult mental health and substance use indicators by race and ethnicity, income level, and metro or nonmetro county, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Tribal Opioid Response: Strategic Plan 2020-2022
Reports on the findings of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council Tribal Opioid Response project – a two-year project focused on developing a program to reduce opioid overdose, opioid use disorder, and stimulant use disorder among American Indian populations residing in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and the Piikani Nation. A review of available data and survey results, and a SWOT analysis were conducted to assist in project development. Common themes included: increase prevention through cultural activities and education; reduce barriers to medication assisted treatment; promote harm reduction strategies; offer safe syringe services; and establish partnerships for improved access to opioid data.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Mental Health System Development in Rural and Remote Areas during COVID-19
Report highlights the barriers faced by rural, remote, and tribal communities to accessing mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details rates of mental health treatment over the past year and compares rural and urban communities. Discusses factors affecting access in rural areas such as workforce shortages, lack of telehealth services, and lack of culturally competent care for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, among others.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
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Ready to Respond: Mental Health Beyond Crisis and COVID-19
Report highlights strategies for addressing the need for mental health services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Details seven recommendations for state mental health programs post-pandemic and discusses workforce challenges and how telehealth can be used to expand access to care to rural and underserved areas.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
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Whole-Person Care for People Experiencing Homelessness and Opioid Use Disorder: A Toolkit
Provides information on whole-person care for housing stability and opioid use disorder (OUD), offering an overview of factors impacting homelessness and OUD, recovery models, and best practices to reduce stigma and develop trauma-informed care.
Additional links: Webinar: Whole-Person Care for People Experiencing Homelessness and Opioid Use Disorder
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Homeless and Housing Resource Center, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Innovations in Native American Communities
Report highlights the efforts of tribal programs to address opioid use disorder in their communities. Presents success stories of programs providing culturally competent treatment, prevention, and recovery for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in several states.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
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Prescription Opioid Use Among Adults With Chronic Pain: United States, 2019
Study examining prescription opioid use to treat chronic pain in adults, breaking down data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey by pain measures and demographics, including race/ethnicity, sex, veteran status, rurality, and more. Discusses trends in the data to identify population characteristics among users of prescription opioids, and addresses risk of prescription opioid misuse.
Author(s): James M. Dahlhamer, Eric M. Connor, Jonaki Bose, Jacqueline W. Lucas, Carla E. Zelaya
Citation: National Health Statistics Reports, 162, 1-8
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Innovations in Overdose Response: Strategies Implemented by Emergency Medical Services Providers
Reports on the findings of an environmental scan conducted in collaboration with the National Association of EMS Officials looking for new and promising overdose response strategies for state and local EMS providers to increase access to treatment and recovery services. Discusses sharing data for public health surveillance and response, building system-wide partnerships, administering buprenorphine, developing post-overdose response teams, utilizing mobile integrated health clinics, and implementation barriers to be considered.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Opioid Treatment Programs: A Key Treatment System Component
Issue brief examining state and federal-level policies related to opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Offers policy recommendations to increase access to opioid treatment in rural communities and other hard-to-reach settings.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
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Last Updated: 6/27/2024