Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Criminal justice system
"It's a Last Straw Situation"; Overdose Response and Preferences for Seeking Support from Emergency Services During Overdose in Rural Ohio
Explores the perceptions and preferences of people in rural Ohio affected by the opioid epidemic about contacting first responders during an overdose. Bases findings on a survey of 43 rural people who have experienced or witnessed an overdose on the factors they considered when deciding whether or not to call 911.
Author(s): David C. Colston, Vivian F. Go, Clare Barrington, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(1), e0338689
Date: 01/2026
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Explores the perceptions and preferences of people in rural Ohio affected by the opioid epidemic about contacting first responders during an overdose. Bases findings on a survey of 43 rural people who have experienced or witnessed an overdose on the factors they considered when deciding whether or not to call 911.
Author(s): David C. Colston, Vivian F. Go, Clare Barrington, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(1), e0338689
Date: 01/2026
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Rural-Urban Differences in the Prevalence and Correlates of Elder Mistreatment
Examines rural and urban differences among 11 indicators of mistreatment for older adults. Discusses the role of rural residency as a protective factor, underreporting elder mistreatment, and potential policy and community solutions that support prevention and response.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Ingrid Jacobson, Dionne Bailey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Applied Gerontology, 2025
Date: 12/2025
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Examines rural and urban differences among 11 indicators of mistreatment for older adults. Discusses the role of rural residency as a protective factor, underreporting elder mistreatment, and potential policy and community solutions that support prevention and response.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Ingrid Jacobson, Dionne Bailey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Applied Gerontology, 2025
Date: 12/2025
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Benzodiazepines and Opioid Co-Use Among Rural People Who Use Drugs: Findings From the Rural Opioid Initiative
Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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Beyond the Clinic Walls: Exploring the Potential of Mobile Health
Explores the use mobile health services to increase access to care and highlights opportunities to close evidence gaps. Summarizes the research on mobile health delivery in primary, specialty, and emergency care. Discusses rural concerns including for breast cancer screening, dentistry, acute stroke response, behavioral crisis interventions, and community paramedicine.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Maanasa Kona, Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center on Health Insurance Reforms, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy
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Explores the use mobile health services to increase access to care and highlights opportunities to close evidence gaps. Summarizes the research on mobile health delivery in primary, specialty, and emergency care. Discusses rural concerns including for breast cancer screening, dentistry, acute stroke response, behavioral crisis interventions, and community paramedicine.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Maanasa Kona, Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center on Health Insurance Reforms, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy
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Variation in Extreme Risk Protection Order Use Among Urban, Suburban, and Rural ZIP Codes in Maryland: A Descriptive Study
Analyzes the use of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) in rural, suburban, and urban Maryland between October 2018 and June 2020. Includes rural and urban analysis of various demographic characteristics, type of threat, target of threat, type of ERPO petitioner, and court outcomes. Discusses a variety of violence types include interpersonal violence, mass shootings, and suicide as well as ERPO uptake in rural areas.
Author(s): Mia Aassar, Elise Omaki, Lisa Geller, April M. Zeoli, Shannon Frattaroli
Citation: Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the use of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) in rural, suburban, and urban Maryland between October 2018 and June 2020. Includes rural and urban analysis of various demographic characteristics, type of threat, target of threat, type of ERPO petitioner, and court outcomes. Discusses a variety of violence types include interpersonal violence, mass shootings, and suicide as well as ERPO uptake in rural areas.
Author(s): Mia Aassar, Elise Omaki, Lisa Geller, April M. Zeoli, Shannon Frattaroli
Citation: Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 09/2025
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Telemedicine Buprenorphine Access For Incarcerated People: Lessons Learned From Maryland's Rural Jails
Explores the lessons learned form implementing a telemedicine-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder in rural Maryland jails. Highlights the challenges and opportunities expanding, establishing, and implementing buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine. Draws conclusions for future interventions.
Author(s): Max Spaderna, Annabelle M. Belcher, Chris Welsh, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 44(9), 1131-1137
Date: 09/2025
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Explores the lessons learned form implementing a telemedicine-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder in rural Maryland jails. Highlights the challenges and opportunities expanding, establishing, and implementing buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine. Draws conclusions for future interventions.
Author(s): Max Spaderna, Annabelle M. Belcher, Chris Welsh, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 44(9), 1131-1137
Date: 09/2025
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Treatment Initiations and Opioid Overdoses among Recently Incarcerated People after Adoption of the Take-Home Methadone Policy
Explores the effect flexible methadone policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic had on opioid overdoses and treatment initiation and uptake among incarcerated people upon release. Highlights the effect this policy had on rural areas and communities that lack access to opioid treatment.
Author(s): Benjamin A. Barsky, Shapei Yan, Meredith B. Rosenthal
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 274, 112775
Date: 09/2025
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Explores the effect flexible methadone policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic had on opioid overdoses and treatment initiation and uptake among incarcerated people upon release. Highlights the effect this policy had on rural areas and communities that lack access to opioid treatment.
Author(s): Benjamin A. Barsky, Shapei Yan, Meredith B. Rosenthal
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 274, 112775
Date: 09/2025
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National Elder Abuse Victim Services Needs Assessment
A needs assessment investigating services available to older adults who have experienced abuse, gaps in those services, barriers in offering and accessing services, and resources needed for elder justice professionals. Offers recommendations based on assessment findings. Discusses rural throughout.
Author(s): Alana M. Henninger, Christine Doelger, Rachel Castellano, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ICF, U.S. Department of Justice
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A needs assessment investigating services available to older adults who have experienced abuse, gaps in those services, barriers in offering and accessing services, and resources needed for elder justice professionals. Offers recommendations based on assessment findings. Discusses rural throughout.
Author(s): Alana M. Henninger, Christine Doelger, Rachel Castellano, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ICF, U.S. Department of Justice
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The Importance of Contextually Specific Support Relationships in Implementing Programs to Link People to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Treatment During Reentry from County Jails
A case study that examines an intervention that links people in county jails to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs. Analyzes 3 rural and 2 urban county jails in Kentucky and the related program implementation, reach, and sustainability.
Author(s): Margaret McGladrey, Marisa Booty, Susannah Stitzer, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice volume 13, 20
Date: 03/2025
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A case study that examines an intervention that links people in county jails to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs. Analyzes 3 rural and 2 urban county jails in Kentucky and the related program implementation, reach, and sustainability.
Author(s): Margaret McGladrey, Marisa Booty, Susannah Stitzer, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice volume 13, 20
Date: 03/2025
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Beliefs of US Chiefs of Police about Substance Use Disorder, Fentanyl Exposure, Overdose Response, and Use of Discretion: Results from a National Survey
Examines police chief perceptions regarding substance use. Focuses on issues such as discretion when making arrests, overdose response, risks of fentanyl exposure, de-escalation practices, harmful drugs in their communities, and buprenorphine obtained via illicit means. Analyzes survey data from 276 police chiefs regarding their knowledge and attitudes on addiction and policing, with breakdowns according to their region, urbanicity, and experience.
Author(s): Amelia Bailey, Barbara Andraka-Christou, Saba Rouhani, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice, 13, 13
Date: 03/2025
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Examines police chief perceptions regarding substance use. Focuses on issues such as discretion when making arrests, overdose response, risks of fentanyl exposure, de-escalation practices, harmful drugs in their communities, and buprenorphine obtained via illicit means. Analyzes survey data from 276 police chiefs regarding their knowledge and attitudes on addiction and policing, with breakdowns according to their region, urbanicity, and experience.
Author(s): Amelia Bailey, Barbara Andraka-Christou, Saba Rouhani, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice, 13, 13
Date: 03/2025
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