Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
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, gender, 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
Type: Document
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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, gender, 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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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Rural and Urban Differences in Undersupply of Buprenorphine Provider Availability in the United States, 2018
Presents a study comparing county-level rates of providers with buprenorphine waivers with rates of opioid-overdose deaths and compares rural and urban areas. Details rural and urban comparisons for 38 states.
Author(s): Kevin P. Conway, Dalia Khoury, Rainer Hilscher, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 17, 5
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Presents a study comparing county-level rates of providers with buprenorphine waivers with rates of opioid-overdose deaths and compares rural and urban areas. Details rural and urban comparisons for 38 states.
Author(s): Kevin P. Conway, Dalia Khoury, Rainer Hilscher, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 17, 5
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Changes in Access to Medication Treatment during COVID-19 Telehealth Expansion and Disparities in Telehealth Use for Medicare Beneficiaries with Opioid Use Disorder
Discusses policies that allow access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via telehealth before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines outpatient telehealth use and MOUD treatment among Medicare beneficiaries by dual eligibility status, rurality, and presence of comorbid health conditions between April-December 2020.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Discusses policies that allow access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via telehealth before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines outpatient telehealth use and MOUD treatment among Medicare beneficiaries by dual eligibility status, rurality, and presence of comorbid health conditions between April-December 2020.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Evaluation of State-Led Surveillance of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome — Six U.S. States, 2018–2021
Examines data collection challenges and infrastructure gaps that impact surveillance of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), based on information from six states with mandated NAS reporting. Includes brief discussion of rural concerns, including disparities in the incidence of opioid use disorder and NAS and gaps in rural infrastructure and access to care.
Author(s): Shahla M. Jilani, Kristina West, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(2), 37-42
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Examines data collection challenges and infrastructure gaps that impact surveillance of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), based on information from six states with mandated NAS reporting. Includes brief discussion of rural concerns, including disparities in the incidence of opioid use disorder and NAS and gaps in rural infrastructure and access to care.
Author(s): Shahla M. Jilani, Kristina West, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(2), 37-42
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Outcomes from the Medication Assisted Treatment Pilot Program for Adults with Opioid Use Disorders in Rural Colorado
Examines the efficacy of a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) pilot program in two rural Colorado counties. Details the structure and setting of the program, patient characteristics and outcomes, and the limitations of the program.
Author(s): Claudia R. Amura, Tanya R. Sorrell, Mary Weber, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 17(1)
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Examines the efficacy of a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) pilot program in two rural Colorado counties. Details the structure and setting of the program, patient characteristics and outcomes, and the limitations of the program.
Author(s): Claudia R. Amura, Tanya R. Sorrell, Mary Weber, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 17(1)
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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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: 1/15/2025