Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
Evidence-based resource guide examining telehealth initiatives to treat serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) based on published research. Topics cover effectiveness of telehealth modalities, implementation of evidence-based practices, examples of telehealth treatment programs, and evaluation resources. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout the guide.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Evidence-based resource guide examining telehealth initiatives to treat serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) based on published research. Topics cover effectiveness of telehealth modalities, implementation of evidence-based practices, examples of telehealth treatment programs, and evaluation resources. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout the guide.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Rural-Urban Differences in Changes and Effects of Tobacco 21 in Youth E-cigarette Use
Highlights a study on youth e-cigarette use across rural and urban communities in light of the increase in Tobacco 21 (T21) policies. Compares under 21 e-cigarette use in rural and urban areas and in T21 and non-T21 areas. Breaks down data by year (2018-2019), sex, and grade in school, among other measures.
Author(s): Hongying Dai, Lisa Chaney, Edward Ellerbeck, et al.
Citation: Pediatrics, 147(5), e2020020651
Date: 05/2021
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Highlights a study on youth e-cigarette use across rural and urban communities in light of the increase in Tobacco 21 (T21) policies. Compares under 21 e-cigarette use in rural and urban areas and in T21 and non-T21 areas. Breaks down data by year (2018-2019), sex, and grade in school, among other measures.
Author(s): Hongying Dai, Lisa Chaney, Edward Ellerbeck, et al.
Citation: Pediatrics, 147(5), e2020020651
Date: 05/2021
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Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Services Utilization
Summarizes the results of a poll conducted between April 29-May 2, 2021, regarding patients' experiences receiving mental health and substance use treatment services, including telehealth services, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the utilization of these services and barriers to treatment by sex, age, education, income, ethnicity, and urban-rural status. Explores the preferences of individuals seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Bipartisan Policy Center, Morning Consult
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Summarizes the results of a poll conducted between April 29-May 2, 2021, regarding patients' experiences receiving mental health and substance use treatment services, including telehealth services, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the utilization of these services and barriers to treatment by sex, age, education, income, ethnicity, and urban-rural status. Explores the preferences of individuals seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Bipartisan Policy Center, Morning Consult
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State and Community Efforts to Address Stimulant Use
Explores state and community-based efforts to address stimulant misuse. Summarizes common themes and key findings that emerged from discussions with a diverse group of stakeholders. Covers program activities, funding sources, facilitators, and barriers to implementing programs to respond to stimulant use. Identifies policy options for community, state, and federal stakeholders. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Rebecca L. Haffajee, Sara Heins
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Explores state and community-based efforts to address stimulant misuse. Summarizes common themes and key findings that emerged from discussions with a diverse group of stakeholders. Covers program activities, funding sources, facilitators, and barriers to implementing programs to respond to stimulant use. Identifies policy options for community, state, and federal stakeholders. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Rebecca L. Haffajee, Sara Heins
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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From the Front Lines: COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts in Rural Communities Hit by the Opioid Epidemic
Examines the COVID-19 response, including testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts, of HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grantees. Discusses challenges related to vaccination efforts to reach rural individuals with substance use disorder/opioid use disorder and other rural residents.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: JBS International, Inc.
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Examines the COVID-19 response, including testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts, of HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grantees. Discusses challenges related to vaccination efforts to reach rural individuals with substance use disorder/opioid use disorder and other rural residents.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: JBS International, Inc.
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Escalating Alcohol-Involved Death Rates: Trends and Variation across the Nation and in the States from 2006 to 2019
Examines alcohol-involved deaths by state and at the national level, discussing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vital statistics data. Explores death rate changes, trends, and variation, comparing state rates to U.S. rates and comparing rates across demographic and age groups, by sex, and by urban/rural location. Offers a map with links to infographics for each state.
Additional links: Issue Brief
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Examines alcohol-involved deaths by state and at the national level, discussing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vital statistics data. Explores death rate changes, trends, and variation, comparing state rates to U.S. rates and comparing rates across demographic and age groups, by sex, and by urban/rural location. Offers a map with links to infographics for each state.
Additional links: Issue Brief
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Guide for Future Directions for the Addiction and OUD Treatment Ecosystem
Details strategies for addressing the opioid use epidemic and improving the current addiction treatment ecosystem. Breaks down the strategies by capacity, competency, consistency, and compensation. Discusses some of the barriers to treating opioid use disorder in rural areas.
Author(s): R. Corey Waller, Kelly J. Clark, Alex Woodruff, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Details strategies for addressing the opioid use epidemic and improving the current addiction treatment ecosystem. Breaks down the strategies by capacity, competency, consistency, and compensation. Discusses some of the barriers to treating opioid use disorder in rural areas.
Author(s): R. Corey Waller, Kelly J. Clark, Alex Woodruff, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Addressing Opioid-Related Outcomes Among Individuals With Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Conditions: An Environmental Scan of Quality Measures
Presents the results of an environmental scan of healthcare quality measures relevant to addressing polysubstance use among individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Includes information on access to buprenorphine providers in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents the results of an environmental scan of healthcare quality measures relevant to addressing polysubstance use among individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Includes information on access to buprenorphine providers in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Healing Tool - Pocket Guide for Addressing Behavioral Health Goals in Native Communities
Provides data and strategies for addressing mental health and substance use issues in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Discusses issues around stigma, medication-assisted treatment, and traditional healing practices, among other measures, for creating culturally competent care in tribal communities.
Author(s): Shirley M. Cain
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
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Provides data and strategies for addressing mental health and substance use issues in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Discusses issues around stigma, medication-assisted treatment, and traditional healing practices, among other measures, for creating culturally competent care in tribal communities.
Author(s): Shirley M. Cain
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
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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
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of Counties, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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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
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of Counties, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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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: 4/17/2025