Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Improving Access - NAM Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic Telehealth and Virtual Care Meeting Series
Highlights the proceedings of a meeting discussing the use of telehealth and virtual care to treat substance use disorder (SUD). Explores the effect the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth regulation and reimbursement. Features considerations for rural communities.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
view details
Highlights the proceedings of a meeting discussing the use of telehealth and virtual care to treat substance use disorder (SUD). Explores the effect the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth regulation and reimbursement. Features considerations for rural communities.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
view details
Spatiotemporal Trends in Three Smoothed Overdose Death Rates in US Counties, 2012–2020
Provides county-level U.S. maps depicting spatiotemporal patterns of synthetic opioid, any opioid, and psychostimulant overdose death rates from 2012 to 2020 and discusses overdose trends and potential response.
Author(s): McKinley E. Saunders, Jamie L. Humphrey, Barrot H. Lambdin
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 03/2023
view details
Provides county-level U.S. maps depicting spatiotemporal patterns of synthetic opioid, any opioid, and psychostimulant overdose death rates from 2012 to 2020 and discusses overdose trends and potential response.
Author(s): McKinley E. Saunders, Jamie L. Humphrey, Barrot H. Lambdin
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 03/2023
view details
The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use
Explores the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental health and substance use. Tracks rates of anxiety and depression, as well as substance use, from before and after the pandemic. Breaks down data by age, race, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Nirmita Panchal, Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz, Cynthia Cox
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Explores the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental health and substance use. Tracks rates of anxiety and depression, as well as substance use, from before and after the pandemic. Breaks down data by age, race, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Nirmita Panchal, Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz, Cynthia Cox
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Availability of Behavioral Health Providers and Services in Rural Areas, with Holly Andrilla
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Holly Andrilla, Deputy Director of the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on rural availability of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors, as well as recent developments in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Holly Andrilla, Deputy Director of the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on rural availability of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors, as well as recent developments in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Urban–Rural Disparities in Deaths of Despair: A County-Level Analysis 2004–2016 in the U.S.
Presents a study exploring the rural-urban differences in drug, alcohol, and suicide mortality rates across the country from 2004 to 2016. Breaks down data by demographic factors, such as sex, employment, and health insurance, among other measures.
Author(s): Jong Hyung Lee, David C. Wheeler, Emily B. Zimmerman, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(2), 149-156
Date: 02/2023
view details
Presents a study exploring the rural-urban differences in drug, alcohol, and suicide mortality rates across the country from 2004 to 2016. Breaks down data by demographic factors, such as sex, employment, and health insurance, among other measures.
Author(s): Jong Hyung Lee, David C. Wheeler, Emily B. Zimmerman, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(2), 149-156
Date: 02/2023
view details
How One New Mexico County is Taking a Community-Wide Approach to Treating Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders
Features a McKinley County, New Mexico community consortium that takes a holistic approach to recovery. Describes the growth of the collaboration over time and the range of local organizations involved.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Features a McKinley County, New Mexico community consortium that takes a holistic approach to recovery. Describes the growth of the collaboration over time and the range of local organizations involved.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Strategies to Recruit Rural Primary Care Providers to Implement a Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Focused Integrated Care Model
Highlights a study on an intervention aimed at addressing systemic barriers to accessing medications for opioid used disorder (MOUD) for rural patients via an integrated care model. Breaks down the intervention structure and discusses project replication and sustainability.
Author(s): Renee M. Cloutier, Evan S. Cole, Brianna L. McDonough, et al.
Citation: Implementation Research and Practice, 4, 1-12
Date: 01/2023
view details
Highlights a study on an intervention aimed at addressing systemic barriers to accessing medications for opioid used disorder (MOUD) for rural patients via an integrated care model. Breaks down the intervention structure and discusses project replication and sustainability.
Author(s): Renee M. Cloutier, Evan S. Cole, Brianna L. McDonough, et al.
Citation: Implementation Research and Practice, 4, 1-12
Date: 01/2023
view details
HCV Serostatus and Injection Sharing Practices Among Those Who Obtain Syringes From Pharmacies and Directly and Indirectly From Syringe Services Programs in Rural New England
Explores the effect that syringe services programs (SSPs) have on hepatitis C (HCV) infection rates in rural people who inject drugs (PWID). Breaks down data by user characteristics, such as age, employment, and syringe sharing practices, among others.
Author(s): Eric Romo, Abby E. Rudolph, Thomas J. Stopka, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 18
Date: 01/2023
view details
Explores the effect that syringe services programs (SSPs) have on hepatitis C (HCV) infection rates in rural people who inject drugs (PWID). Breaks down data by user characteristics, such as age, employment, and syringe sharing practices, among others.
Author(s): Eric Romo, Abby E. Rudolph, Thomas J. Stopka, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 18
Date: 01/2023
view details
Over the Hills and Through the Hollers: How One Program is Assisting Residents of Appalachia with Opioid Use Recovery
Results of a study evaluating the Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to low-income adults recovering from opioid addiction in several rural eastern Kentucky counties. Examines the impact of KATR on service recipients' access to recovery services and supports.
Author(s): Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(3), 71-86
Date: 01/2023
view details
Results of a study evaluating the Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to low-income adults recovering from opioid addiction in several rural eastern Kentucky counties. Examines the impact of KATR on service recipients' access to recovery services and supports.
Author(s): Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(3), 71-86
Date: 01/2023
view details
Trends and Characteristics of Buprenorphine-Involved Overdose Deaths Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Details a study evaluating the rates of buprenorphine-involved overdose deaths before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic when prescribing regulations were loosened. Compares overdose mortality rates involving buprenorphine in 2019 and 2021 and breaks down data by a number of demographic factors, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Lauren J. Tanz, Christopher M. Jones, Nicole L. Davis, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2251856
Date: 01/2023
view details
Details a study evaluating the rates of buprenorphine-involved overdose deaths before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic when prescribing regulations were loosened. Compares overdose mortality rates involving buprenorphine in 2019 and 2021 and breaks down data by a number of demographic factors, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Lauren J. Tanz, Christopher M. Jones, Nicole L. Davis, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2251856
Date: 01/2023
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Alcohol use
- Behavioral health
- Behavioral health workforce
- Illicit drug use
- Prescription drug misuse
- Substance use and misuse
- Tobacco use
Last Updated: 3/26/2025