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Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources

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

Somebody to Lean on: Understanding Self-Stigma and Willingness to Disclose in the Context of Addiction
Presents a study on self-stigma, or the unwillingness to disclose opioid use, and aims to identify factors that predict lower levels of self-stigma. Breaks down data by race, sex, age, and rural/urban location, among other measures. Discusses strategies for overcoming self-stigma.
Author(s): Qing Ma, Christopher R. Whipple, Övgü Kaynak, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), 1044
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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The State of Mental Health in America
Report presents data on mental health and substance use for youth and adults across all 50 states. Highlights barriers to mental health wellness, such as lack of mental healthcare coverage, mental health workforce shortages, and cost of treatment, among other factors. Discusses some challenges specific to rural communities.
Author(s): Maddy Reinert, Danielle Fritze, Theresa Nguyen
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America
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Pain in the Nation 2024: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to race and metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Brandon Reavis
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) Detailed Tables - 2023
Explores 2023 survey data, including revisions, 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.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Community-Level Factors and their Associations with Changing Opioid Overdose Fatality Rates in Kentucky, 2019–2021
Identifies associations between community-level factors and opioid overdose fatality rates in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties, and examines how these associations have changed from 2019 to 2021. Discusses societal changes that occurred due to COVID-19, including social isolation, and which may be linked to an increase in overdose deaths. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, adjacent-to-metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Shawn R. Nigam, Philip M. Westgate, Svetla Slavova, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Katherine L. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 90-115
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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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
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Barriers to Healthcare and Social Service Utilization Among Rural Older Adults Who Use Drugs
Presents a study on the barriers to healthcare and social services access for older adults in rural communities who use drugs. Bases findings on survey results from rural adults over 50 who use drugs on perceived barriers to service utilization. Highlights how barriers such as a lack of transportation, health insurance, and permanent housing correlates with age.
Author(s): Beth Prusaczyk, Sandra Tilmon, Joshua Landman, et al.
Citation: Journal of Applied Gerontology, 43(12), 1977-1984
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Population Estimates — United States, 2022
Describes the U.S. adult populations who need opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, receive any OUD treatment, and receive medication for OUD. Includes data for metropolitan compared to micropolitan and noncore locations.
Author(s): Deborah Dowell, Samantha Brown, Shiromani Gyawali, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(25), 567-574
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Is Peer Support a Tipping Point for the Opioid Use Disorder Crisis in Appalachia? Research Holds the Answer
Investigates how the relationship among cultural, socioeconomic, medical, and geographic factors in Central Appalachia create additional burdens for opioid use recovery. Analyzes the effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder and peer recovery support services, providing recommendations to address opioid use disorder in Appalachia.
Author(s): Kimberly Horn, Stephanie M. Mathis, Lara Nagle, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction, 21, 122
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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"I Don't Think That a Medication Is Going to Help Someone Long-Term Stay off Opioids": Treatment and Recovery Beliefs of Rural Vermont Family Members of People with Opioid Use Disorder
Examines beliefs related to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and recovery from the perspective of the family members of people with OUD. Analyzes interview data from 20 rural Vermont family members and discusses themes such as medication for OUD (MOUD), OUD treatment and mental health services, patient readiness for OUD treatment, and stigma.
Author(s): Catherine E. Peasley-Miklus, Julia G. Shaw, Katie Rosingana, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 12/3/2024