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Rural Health
News by Topic: Substance use and misuse

Mar 24, 2023 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a joint meeting of the National Advisory Councils, the Advisory Committee for Women's Services (ACWS), and the Tribal Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) on April 15, 2023. Agenda items include remarks from the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use; updates by the SAMHSA Centers and Office Directors; a presentation and discussion addressing the Children's Mental Health Crisis; discussion/feedback on how to improve the mental health and substance use disorders services during a public health emergency; and a presentation and discussion on the impact on fentanyl in American communities. Registration is required to attend the meeting.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 24, 2023 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Advisory Council (NAC) will hold a virtual public meeting on April 27, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items include remarks from the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, updates on SAMHSA priorities, follow up on topics from the previous meeting, updates on SAMHSA priorities, and other council discussions. Registration is required to attend the meeting, and those interested in making oral presentations must contact Carlos Castillo with the request by April 19, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 23, 2023 - Announces that the National Association of County and City Health Official has awarded almost $360,000 in funding to 6 sites as part of the Harm Reduction and Academic Detailing project. Sites are located in Ohio, Utah, California, Arkansas, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
Source: National Association of County and City Health Officials
Mar 19, 2023 - Tribal leaders in the Cherokee Nation say $100 million won in opioid settlements will help their community heal from decades of addiction. Over the next five years, the tribe plans to roll out a total of $75 million in new treatment facilities. The remainder will go toward the costs of running these sites as well as a scholarship fund.
Source: WHQR Public Media
Mar 16, 2023 - Announces that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded 15 states each with $1 million, one-year Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) planning grants. CCBHCs were created to transform mental health and substance use treatment and provide sustainable funding for robust community outpatient mental health treatment.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Mar 10, 2023 - Mercer University's new Faith in Rural Health initiative, a partnership among the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, School of Medicine, and McAfee School of Theology, aims to support the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in rural Georgia counties by coordinating efforts of clergy, physicians, and healthcare professionals.
Source: The Den
Mar 3, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a virtual public meeting of the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) on April 19-20, 2023. The CPSTF is charged with identifying community preventive programs, services, and policies that increase healthy longevity and improve quality of life while saving money. Agenda items include deliberation on systematic reviews of the literature on mental health, substance use, preparedness and response, cancer, and oral health.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 1, 2023 - Notice of proposed rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) amending its regulations to increase access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorders (OUD). The DEA proposes expanding the circumstances under which individual providers are authorized to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD via telemedicine, including an audio-only telemedicine encounter. Comments are due by March 31, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 23, 2023 - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Director of Opioid Initiatives says the 12 tribal nations across the state have the highest overdose rate of any population. The Menominee tribe's new Drug Intervention Team brings together resources from health and law enforcement to fight fentanyl and heroin deaths.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
Feb 17, 2023 - Montana governor Gov. Greg Gianforte announced a $2.1 million grant to the Rural Behavioral Health Institute to provide free optional mental health and substance abuse screenings for all schools statewide and same-day care for students flagged as being at high risk for suicide. The money will come from the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Grant program, funded by federal COVID relief aid.
Source: Kaiser Health News
Feb 13, 2023 - Notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on the implementation of amendments made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, section 1262(a)(1), which immediately eliminated the requirement to obtain a waiver to prescribe certain schedule III-V medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). HHS is proposing to formally remove DATA 2000-related provisions from federal regulations. Comments are due by March 14, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 13, 2023 - Describes a program through which students at Texas A&M University's School of Nursing are using virtual reality to gain real-world experience in treating patients. The simulations revolve around common medical conditions people in rural areas often face, such as managing chronic conditions, mental and maternal postpartum care, and substance abuse.
Source: WTKR
Feb 12, 2023 - Offers suggestions for smaller counties submitting applications for funding to help with substance use disorders. Notes that many grants are within the reach of most counties, though technical assistance may be just as effective for communities trying to address substance use.
Source: National Association of Counties
Feb 10, 2023 - Highlights some of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' policies to support rural providers, improve access to care in rural areas, and support the transformation of the rural health delivery system.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Feb 1, 2023 - A study published in The Lancet says that premature "deaths of despair" have affected American Indian and Alaska Native communities more than white communities. American Indians and Alaska Native people were not surveyed in a 2015 study that looked at death rates for 45-54 year-olds from 1999-2013.
Source: NPR
Jan 30, 2023 - Highlights two programs on the Cherokee Nation reservation: a domestic violence shelter that provides a variety of the victim services, and the Cherokee Nation Harm Reduction Program, which offers syringe services to reduce drug use and keep clients healthier by preventing the transmission of blood-borne infections.
Source: The Daily Yonder