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Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.

Temporal Trends in Substance Use and Cardiovascular Disease–Related Mortality in the United States
Analyzes 636,572 death certificates to identify trends for both substance use and cardiovascular disease-related mortality between 1999 and 2019. Breaks down data by rurality, gender, race and ethnicity, type of substance use, and more. Includes state-level comparisons.
Author(s): Abdul Mannan Khan Minhas, Jakrin Kewcharoen, Michael E. Hall, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association 13(2)
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Effectiveness of Syringe Services Programs
Presents a literature review of the studies evaluating SSP interventions across the country. Report aims to evaluate the overall efficacy of SSPs at reducing the transmission of HIV/HCV. Four of the 100 studies were conducted in completely rural settings, and 5 were conducted in both rural and urban settings. Makes recommendations for VA policy makers.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary
Author(s): Katherine M. Mackey, Erin H. Beech, Beth E. Williams, et al.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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Use of Primary Care and Emergency Departments for Substance Use Treatment: The Rural and Urban Divide
Explores the use of primary care and emergency departments for substance use treatment in rural and urban areas. Draws from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015-2019 and breaks down data by age, race, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Nathaniel Albright, Christina Dyar, Ethan Morgan
Citation: Substance Use & Misuse, 59(2), 300-305
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Retention in Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Among Rural Populations: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Highlights a study on the efficacy of telehealth-based treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) for rural populations. Draws patient data from 2020-2022 across 14 states and breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as insurance status, education, and rurality, among other measures. Explores retention in care and adherence over a 6 month treatment period.
Author(s): Marlene C. Lira, Cynthia Jimes, M. Justin Coffey
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 29(12), 1890-1896
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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State Actions to Build the Behavioral Health Crisis Continuum
Toolkit features a continuum of behavioral health crisis services and supports and discusses the strategies for program planning and development for state officials and agencies. Highlights models and resources for core components such as regional call centers, mobile crisis teams, and stabilization facilities, among others. Also includes crisis care principles, such as peer supports, law enforcement partnerships, and rural and frontier delivery challenges.
Author(s): Rebekah Falkner, Laura Galbreath, Sandra Wilkniss
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Lessons in Rural Leadership
Provides guidance on cultivating leadership among a rural behavioral health workforce. Highlights some challenges for building mental health workforce leadership curriculum and discusses local barriers faced by a rural behavioral health workforce, such as insurance coverage, transportation, and housing, among others.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
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RCORP: Helping Meet Rural Needs
Video series featuring the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative that funds a range of grant programs to help rural communities treat and prevent opioid use disorder. RCORP grantees share how they have used this funding to address the needs of their communities.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Filling the Gaps: Program Builds Referral and Recovery Services in Western Massachusetts
Features a rural Massachusetts coalition's work to address substance misuse and build sustainable recovery services, with support from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Discusses youth outreach and engagement, stigma reduction activities, facilitating access to services, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Substance Use Among Rural Adolescents With Incarcerated Parents: Evidence From a State-Wide Sample
Presents a study on the potential correlation between parental incarceration and rural adolescent substance use. Draws data from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey and breaks down findings by age, household substance use, and poverty, among other factors.
Author(s): Luke Muentner, Katie K. McLaughlin, Rebecca Shlafer
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 338-347
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) Detailed Tables - 2022
Explores 2022 survey data, including revisions, on use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, trends in substance use disorder and mental health, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status. Includes information on substance use and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Last Updated: 4/8/2024