Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources

Opioid Overdose Epidemic Toolkit for Local Health Departments
Toolkit offering resources, data, and other information at the local, state, and national level related to the opioid epidemic and substance use issues. Focuses on 5 response efforts: monitoring and surveillance; prevention; harm reduction and response; linkage to care; stigma; and stakeholder engagement and community partnerships.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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National Opioids Crisis: Help and Resources
Highlights the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services strategy to combating the opioid crisis. Presents resources and information for prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Rural Communities in Crisis: A Critical Count to Save Lives During the Opioid Epidemic
A method rural communities can use to estimate the size and characteristics of the population who inject drugs. Includes a toolkit describing the approach and an online calculation tool that can be used to estimate service needs in a community related to the opioid crisis.
Additional links: Calculation Tool, Toolkit: Applying Population Estimation Methods in Rural America
Type: Tool
Sponsoring organization: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model
Overview of a CMS initiative focused on the care of pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD) through state-driven transformation of the delivery system. Supports coordination of clinical care and integration of other services critical for health, well-being, and recovery.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States
Interactive map highlighting state- and county-level drug overdose death data, including opioid overdose deaths, in the United States. Data can be examined by selected demographic, economic, and behavioral health factors for 3 time periods: 2010-2013, 2014-2017, or 2018-2021.
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, NORC at the University of Chicago, U.S. Department of Justice
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Opioid Mapping Initiative
Presents a mapping system of layers allowing users to locate distributors of naloxone and prescription drug drop off locations. Aims to provide open data sets to local health departments, law enforcement agencies, and communities.
Additional links: National Naloxone Map
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: New America
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Opioid Epidemic Practical Toolkit: Helping Faith and Community Leaders Bring Hope and Healing to Our Communities
Provides practical steps that community and faith-based organizations can take to help address the opioid crisis. Includes information on awareness, prevention, and recovery support. Also covers community capacity building, collaboration, and federal resources.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (The Partnership Center)
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Opioid Stewardship in the Indian Health Service
Discusses the use of prescription opioids and outlines proper pain management for Indian Health Services (IHS) patients and providers. Features resources and videos for providers and tribal communities in the areas of crisis data and response, medication assisted treatment (MAT) and Tele-MAT, a Naloxone training toolkit, prevention, maternal/child health, and pain management.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Rural Opioid Educational Resources
A comprehensive list of National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health resources addressing the opioid crisis. Includes reports, webinar recordings, promising practices, training materials, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) resources. Also offers customizable posters, flyers, brochures, and more.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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HRSA: Opioid Crisis
Features information, resources, and opportunities related to addressing the opioid crisis. Details HRSA's efforts to help combat opioid abuse, including the sharing of best practices, increasing education and training, and expanding access through health centers and the use of telehealth, among other interventions.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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