Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
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
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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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
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Comparing Smoking Cessation Interventions among Underserved Patients Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: A Pragmatic Trial Protocol
Presents a study comparing four different smoking cessation support programs offered in tandem with lung cancer screening for underserved patients. Evaluates each intervention offered to Black, Latinx, and rural patients and draws conclusions based on outcomes.
Author(s): Rachel Kohn, Anil Vachani, Dylan Small, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 19(2), 303-314
Date: 02/2022
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Presents a study comparing four different smoking cessation support programs offered in tandem with lung cancer screening for underserved patients. Evaluates each intervention offered to Black, Latinx, and rural patients and draws conclusions based on outcomes.
Author(s): Rachel Kohn, Anil Vachani, Dylan Small, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 19(2), 303-314
Date: 02/2022
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Hazardous Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Harm in Rural and Remote Communities: A Scoping Review
Presents a review of studies exploring hazardous alcohol use and alcohol-related harm in rural and remote communities. Details the health effects and other negative outcomes of hazardous alcohol use and highlights correlations across rural communities.
Author(s): Erik Loewen Friesen, Jacob Bailey, Sarah Hyett, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Public Health, 7(2), E177-E187
Date: 02/2022
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Presents a review of studies exploring hazardous alcohol use and alcohol-related harm in rural and remote communities. Details the health effects and other negative outcomes of hazardous alcohol use and highlights correlations across rural communities.
Author(s): Erik Loewen Friesen, Jacob Bailey, Sarah Hyett, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Public Health, 7(2), E177-E187
Date: 02/2022
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Rural Health Research Recap: Opioid Use Disorder and Treatment: Rural-Urban Comparisons
Summary of research on opioid use disorder (OUD) among youth, young adults, and pregnant women, the impact of OUD on hospitals and emergency departments, and the use of buprenorphine and partial psychiatric hospitalization programs as treatment for OUD. Features statistics including population-adjusted emergency department rates per 100 people from 2005-2016 and opioid-related emergency room visit rates per 100,000 people in 2006 and 2013, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Per Ostmo
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Summary of research on opioid use disorder (OUD) among youth, young adults, and pregnant women, the impact of OUD on hospitals and emergency departments, and the use of buprenorphine and partial psychiatric hospitalization programs as treatment for OUD. Features statistics including population-adjusted emergency department rates per 100 people from 2005-2016 and opioid-related emergency room visit rates per 100,000 people in 2006 and 2013, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Per Ostmo
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Social Determinants of Mortality of COVID-19 and Opioid Overdose in American Rural and Urban Counties
Highlights a study on the social determinants of health that correlate with high COVID-19 and opioid overdose mortality in rural and urban counties. Breaks down county data by median income, unemployment, and healthcare workforce, among other factors.
Author(s): Yuhui Zhu, Zhe Fei, Larissa J. Mooney, et al.
Citation: Journal of Addiction Medicine, 16(1), e52-e55
Date: 02/2022
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Highlights a study on the social determinants of health that correlate with high COVID-19 and opioid overdose mortality in rural and urban counties. Breaks down county data by median income, unemployment, and healthcare workforce, among other factors.
Author(s): Yuhui Zhu, Zhe Fei, Larissa J. Mooney, et al.
Citation: Journal of Addiction Medicine, 16(1), e52-e55
Date: 02/2022
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Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress
Offers strategies to support development and integration of behavioral health services across healthcare and community-based organizations, including leveraging payment systems to support coordinated care for farm families and aligning federal grant programs to address mental health and substance use disorders. Features recommendations including integrating primary and behavioral care for initial treatment of mental health and substance abuse concerns, expanding the workforce to improve rural behavioral health services capacity, increasing telehealth services, and expanding private and public insurance coverage.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers strategies to support development and integration of behavioral health services across healthcare and community-based organizations, including leveraging payment systems to support coordinated care for farm families and aligning federal grant programs to address mental health and substance use disorders. Features recommendations including integrating primary and behavioral care for initial treatment of mental health and substance abuse concerns, expanding the workforce to improve rural behavioral health services capacity, increasing telehealth services, and expanding private and public insurance coverage.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Postmortem Screening of Opioids, Benzodiazepines, and Alcohol Among Rural and Urban Suicide Decedents
Presents a study comparing the co-use of opioids and other substances in opioid-related overdose suicides in rural and urban areas. Breaks down 2012-2015 data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) by toxicology reports, sex, race, and mental health history, among other factors.
Author(s): KM Bensley, William C Kerr, Sarah Beth Barnett, Nina Mulia
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(1), 77-86
Date: 01/2022
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Presents a study comparing the co-use of opioids and other substances in opioid-related overdose suicides in rural and urban areas. Breaks down 2012-2015 data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) by toxicology reports, sex, race, and mental health history, among other factors.
Author(s): KM Bensley, William C Kerr, Sarah Beth Barnett, Nina Mulia
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(1), 77-86
Date: 01/2022
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A Pilot Study Examining Access to and Satisfaction with Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telemedicine
Highlights a study on the role telemedicine plays in increasing access to mental health and substance use treatment for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. The study received a high percentage of participants from rural areas and breaks down the demographic data by rural, as well as several other factors such as age, race, and diagnosis, to name a few.
Author(s): Constance Guille, Emily Johnson, Edie Douglas, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine Reports, 3(1), 24-29
Date: 01/2022
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Highlights a study on the role telemedicine plays in increasing access to mental health and substance use treatment for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. The study received a high percentage of participants from rural areas and breaks down the demographic data by rural, as well as several other factors such as age, race, and diagnosis, to name a few.
Author(s): Constance Guille, Emily Johnson, Edie Douglas, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine Reports, 3(1), 24-29
Date: 01/2022
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Applications of Research Evidence During Processes to Acquire Approvals for Syringe Services Program Implementation in Rural Counties in Kentucky
Presents a study on the research used to implement syringe services programs (SSPs) for people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural counties in Kentucky. Discusses the methods used for applying SSP research to the program approval and implementation processes.
Author(s): Sean T. Allen, Suzanne M. Grieb, Jennifer L. Glick, et al.
Citation: Annals of Medicine, 54(1), 404–412
Date: 01/2022
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Presents a study on the research used to implement syringe services programs (SSPs) for people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural counties in Kentucky. Discusses the methods used for applying SSP research to the program approval and implementation processes.
Author(s): Sean T. Allen, Suzanne M. Grieb, Jennifer L. Glick, et al.
Citation: Annals of Medicine, 54(1), 404–412
Date: 01/2022
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A Qualitative Study on Pharmacy Policies Toward Over-the-Counter Syringe Sales in a Rural Epicenter of US Drug-Related Epidemics
Examines pharmacy over-the-counter (OTC) policies and pharmacists' rationale for, and barriers and facilitators to, OTC syringe sales in a rural Appalachian Kentucky area hard hit by drug-related epidemics. Uses data collected from interviews with 14 pharmacists between February 2018 and January 2019.
Author(s): Monica Fadanelli, Hannah L. F. Cooper, Patricia R. Freeman, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19(1)
Date: 01/2022
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Examines pharmacy over-the-counter (OTC) policies and pharmacists' rationale for, and barriers and facilitators to, OTC syringe sales in a rural Appalachian Kentucky area hard hit by drug-related epidemics. Uses data collected from interviews with 14 pharmacists between February 2018 and January 2019.
Author(s): Monica Fadanelli, Hannah L. F. Cooper, Patricia R. Freeman, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19(1)
Date: 01/2022
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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: 4/9/2025