Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Frequent Police Contact and Nonfatal Overdose among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Exploring Associations Between Well-Being, Mental Distress, and Five Dimensions of Social Capital in Rural Georgia
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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2024 Preparedness Profile Study
Provides an overview of local health department (LHD) readiness in addressing emergencies and threats. Includes data on percentage of LHDs that focus on issues related to workforce, partnerships, preparedness capacity, and preparedness response activity, with select data broken down by small, medium, and large LHDs.
Author(s): Chloe Garofalini, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Provides an overview of local health department (LHD) readiness in addressing emergencies and threats. Includes data on percentage of LHDs that focus on issues related to workforce, partnerships, preparedness capacity, and preparedness response activity, with select data broken down by small, medium, and large LHDs.
Author(s): Chloe Garofalini, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Rhode Island Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Rhode Island in 2025. Includes county-level data.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Rhode Island in 2025. Includes county-level data.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Mental Health Treatment among Adults: United States, 2024
Explores data pertaining to mental health treatment received by adults in 2024. Breaks down data by treatment type, such as receiving medication or therapy, as well as demographic measures, such as age, family income, and rurality, among others.
Author(s): Elizabeth M. Briones, Maria A. Villarroel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Explores data pertaining to mental health treatment received by adults in 2024. Breaks down data by treatment type, such as receiving medication or therapy, as well as demographic measures, such as age, family income, and rurality, among others.
Author(s): Elizabeth M. Briones, Maria A. Villarroel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Concordance Between Social Needs Screening and Availability of Associated Programs in US Hospitals
Examines the extent to which hospitals screen patients for social needs by analyzing data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Explores the alignment between hospitals that screen for social needs and the availability of programs to address those needs. Compares data on social needs screening and corresponding programs at hospitals by rural and urban location, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, region, ownership, and participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs).
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Keith Mueller, Whitney E. Zahnd
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines the extent to which hospitals screen patients for social needs by analyzing data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Explores the alignment between hospitals that screen for social needs and the availability of programs to address those needs. Compares data on social needs screening and corresponding programs at hospitals by rural and urban location, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, region, ownership, and participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs).
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Keith Mueller, Whitney E. Zahnd
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Rural vs. Urban Patterns of Dental Care Services and Outcomes among Medicaid-Enrolled Children in Early Childhood
Describes rural and urban patterns of preventive and restorative dental care and oral health outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children aged 2 through 5 in 2021-2022. Includes data on the percent of children who received any preventive dental services, children with fewer than 2 cleanings per year, and number of dental caries diagnosed each year by rurality.
Author(s): Cassie Odahowski, Joni Nelson, Amy Martin, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes rural and urban patterns of preventive and restorative dental care and oral health outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children aged 2 through 5 in 2021-2022. Includes data on the percent of children who received any preventive dental services, children with fewer than 2 cleanings per year, and number of dental caries diagnosed each year by rurality.
Author(s): Cassie Odahowski, Joni Nelson, Amy Martin, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Transitions from First Drug Use to Illicit Opioid and Injection Drug Use in a Multisite Rural U.S. Cohort of People Who Use Drugs
Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
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Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
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A Tour of Youth Behavioral Health Services Landscape: Prevalence, Treatment, and the Workforce
Webinar discussing the prevalence of youth mental health conditions, substance use, and treatment in rural areas, the distribution of the youth behavioral health workforce, and the state of Medicaid funding for these services.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Janessa Graves, Holly Andrilla, Lisa Garberson, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Research Gateway, WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Webinar discussing the prevalence of youth mental health conditions, substance use, and treatment in rural areas, the distribution of the youth behavioral health workforce, and the state of Medicaid funding for these services.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Janessa Graves, Holly Andrilla, Lisa Garberson, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Research Gateway, WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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VA Medical Facility Security: Actions Needed to Address Longstanding Risks
Discusses findings from the Government Accountability Office's work regarding security at Veterans Administration (VA) medical facilities between January 2013 and April 2026. Describes challenges related to the security of its facilities and actions that could help address those challenges. Compares crime rates at VA stations that serve majority urban and majority rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses findings from the Government Accountability Office's work regarding security at Veterans Administration (VA) medical facilities between January 2013 and April 2026. Describes challenges related to the security of its facilities and actions that could help address those challenges. Compares crime rates at VA stations that serve majority urban and majority rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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