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Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources

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

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and County Governments - A National Model Tailored for Local Mental Health and Substance Use Care
Discusses the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and details how counties can deploy CCBHCs to address mental health and substance use issues in their communities. Breaks down the structure of CCBHCs and provides several state level examples.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of Counties, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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An Examination of Telehealth Policy Impacts on Initial Rural Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Patterns During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
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Urban–Rural Differences in Drug Overdose Death Rates, 1999–2019
Examines age-adjusted drug overdose deaths in urban and rural counties. Includes urban-rural data on overdose deaths overall and for selected types of opioids and stimulants from 1999 through 2019. Identifies states with higher overdose deaths in rural counties, higher rates in urban counties, and states with no significant difference between rural and urban overdose death rates.
Author(s): Holly Hedegaard, Merianne Rose Spencer
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Opioid and Substance Use Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals
Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid and substance use disorders (O/SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of O/SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Projected Estimates of Opioid Mortality After Community-Level Interventions
Presents a study on the effectiveness of different evidence-based practices to prevent opioid overdose mortality in simulated rural and urban communities. Highlights data by evidence-based practice and by projected rural and urban population group, which is broken down by age, sex, and opioid injection versus non-injection.
Author(s): Benjamin P. Linas, Alexandra Savinkina, R. W. M. A. Madushani, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(2), e2037259
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
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Opioid-Related Visits to Rural Emergency Departments
Explores the impact of the opioid crisis on rural emergency departments (EDs) by analyzing 2006 and 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data. Compares opioid-related ED visits in rural and urban hospitals by type of opioid involved and year. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, comorbid diagnosis at admission, and outcome of ED visit.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jean A. Talbot, Deborah Thayer, Carly Milkowski
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Opioid-Related and Stimulant-Related Adult Inpatient Stays, 2012-2018
Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays related to the dependence, abuse, and adverse effects of opioids and stimulants between 2012 and 2018. Examines data by patient characteristics, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, urban or rural location of residence, and income.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Rural Emergency Medical Service Providers Perceptions on the Causes of and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis: A Qualitative Assessment
Study examining the perspectives of rural emergency medical service (EMS) providers on key issues related to the opioid crisis, including prescription, ease of access to opioids, socioeconomic vulnerability, mental health, and lack of alternative treatment options. Discusses qualitative data taken from 123 surveys addressing perceived causes and solutions to the crisis.
Author(s): Heather Blue, Ashley Dahly, Susan Chhen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 12, 2150132720987715
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Harm Reduction and Adaptations Among PWUD in Rural Oregon During COVID-19
Presents a study on harm reduction practices during the COVID-19 pandemic for people who use drugs (PWUDs) in rural Oregon. Bases findings on interviews with PWUDs in 5 rural counties. Breaks down data by gender, race, and drugs used. Discusses the effect of COVID-19 on syringe service programs in rural areas.
Author(s): Andrew Seaman, Gillian Leichtling, Erin Stack, et al.
Citation: AIDS and Behavior, 25(5), 1331–1339
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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COVID-19 and Rural Harm Reduction Challenges in the U.S. Southern Mountains
Explores the relationship between drug use and COVID-19 infections in the Southern Mountains region of Appalachia. Highlights the changes caused by COVID-19 and the challenges harm reduction programs face in providing services, such as syringe exchanges, naloxone access, and COVID-19-related services.
Author(s): Bayla Ostrach, Lesly-Marie Buer, Sam Armbruster, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 252-255
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 6/20/2024