Rural Health
News by Topic: Substance use and misuse
Apr 7, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeking comments on a proposed information collection titled "Public Health/Public Safety Strategies to Reduce Drug Overdose Data Collection." The information collected will be used to improve public health/public safety partnerships and responses to the overdose crisis that involve public safety. Comments are due by June 8, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 6, 2026 - Profiles a recovery high school in rural Maine in response to substance use among youth. The high school will have a boarding component to better reach the dispersed rural population. Discusses the lack of youth addiction services in the area, maintaining educational achievement while using substances, stigma, and funding.
Source: The Hechinger Report
Mar 30, 2026 - Describes the work of Nebraska researchers who are investigating treatment barriers and facilitators of success for rural people with addiction. Discusses the impact of both stigma and support networks in treatment.
Source: WJAG
Mar 30, 2026 - Announces U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for one hub site and 5 end-user sites in rural Kentucky with distance learning and teleconferencing equipment. The equipment will allow for mental health and substance use telehealth services in addition to college and career readiness.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mar 25, 2026 - Announces bipartisan legislation to improve access to mental health and addiction services for farmers and ranchers in rural communities.
Source: Office of Representative Derrick Van Orden
Mar 18, 2026 - Summarizes recent research finding disparities in mortality between urban and rural residents with cancer. The study analyzed 27,710,318 cancer deaths between 1969 and 2023 and compared rural and urban trends during that time. Notes drivers of outcome disparities including access to care, healthcare screenings, poverty, smoking, and more.
Source: American Cancer Society
SAMHSA: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Mar 13, 2026 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is seeking comments on a proposed methodological field tests for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The proposed methodological tests will examine ways to increase data quality, lower operating costs, and gain a better understanding of sources and effects of non-sampling error on NSDUH estimates. Comments are due by May 12, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 28, 2026 - Describes the focus on native culture as a preventive strategy for suicide and mental health crises in Lummi Nation. Discusses high rates of drug overdoses among Lummi Nation youth.
Source: Native News Online
Feb 23, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) making corrections to the February 2, 2024, final rule titled "Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder." These corrections are effective February 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 11, 2026 - The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust has awarded more than $600,000 to research and prevention projects at Mercer University School of Medicine. The projects address substance use in Georgia and emphasize prevention, treatment, and impact in rural communities most affected by the opioid epidemic.
Source: The Den