Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use
Assessing the Needs of Rural Families Affected by the Opioid Crisis: Issue Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
Patient Centered Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Vermont: A Qualitative Study
Examines patient perspectives on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment in rural Vermont, utilizing interview data from 15 people who received care at Vermont Hub and Spoke clinics. Highlights patient perspectives on aspects of patient-centered care, and their influences on retention and engagement with treatment.
Author(s): Emily G. Hichborn, Owen B. Murray, Eilis I. Murphy, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 3
Date: 01/2025
view details
Examines patient perspectives on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment in rural Vermont, utilizing interview data from 15 people who received care at Vermont Hub and Spoke clinics. Highlights patient perspectives on aspects of patient-centered care, and their influences on retention and engagement with treatment.
Author(s): Emily G. Hichborn, Owen B. Murray, Eilis I. Murphy, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 3
Date: 01/2025
view details
Cannabis Use Characteristics and Associations with Problematic Use Outcomes, Quitting-Related Factors, and Mental Health among US Young Adults
Examines factors related to cannabis use via latent class analysis of survey data provided by 4,031 young adults. Includes data on frequency of use, problematic use, quitting, and mental health, with data breakdowns by rural, suburban/micropolitan, and urban dwelling.
Author(s): Carla J. Berg, Cassidy R. LoParco, Katelyn F. Romm, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 1
Date: 01/2025
view details
Examines factors related to cannabis use via latent class analysis of survey data provided by 4,031 young adults. Includes data on frequency of use, problematic use, quitting, and mental health, with data breakdowns by rural, suburban/micropolitan, and urban dwelling.
Author(s): Carla J. Berg, Cassidy R. LoParco, Katelyn F. Romm, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 1
Date: 01/2025
view details
Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
view details
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
view details
Indian Health Service Program Evaluation Services: Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Projects Aggregate Report 2021-2024
Report evaluates the Indian Health Service's Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project aimed at addressing opioid use disorder in tribal communities. Collects and evaluates data from grantees after the program's first three years, April 1, 2021-March 31, 2024. Explores grantees' progress in building organizational capacity, community and educational events, and professional trainings, among other measures.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
view details
Report evaluates the Indian Health Service's Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project aimed at addressing opioid use disorder in tribal communities. Collects and evaluates data from grantees after the program's first three years, April 1, 2021-March 31, 2024. Explores grantees' progress in building organizational capacity, community and educational events, and professional trainings, among other measures.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
view details
Expanding the Opioid Use Disorder Medication Treatment Workforce in Rural Communities Through the RCORP Initiative
Examines the impact of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) on the workforce supply of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-waivered clinicians in rural areas, who are able to prescribe buprenorphine. Analyzes 2017–2022 DEA lists of waivered clinicians to report on counties with a waivered clinician, clinician-to-population ratios, and treatment slot-to-population ratios. Discusses the impact of RCORP funding on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) recovery services in rural communities.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Kathleen Meyers, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12867
Date: 2025
view details
Examines the impact of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) on the workforce supply of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-waivered clinicians in rural areas, who are able to prescribe buprenorphine. Analyzes 2017–2022 DEA lists of waivered clinicians to report on counties with a waivered clinician, clinician-to-population ratios, and treatment slot-to-population ratios. Discusses the impact of RCORP funding on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) recovery services in rural communities.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Kathleen Meyers, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12867
Date: 2025
view details
South Dakota Department of Health 2024 Annual Report
Describes activities and accomplishments of the South Dakota Department of Health in 2024. Includes sections on public health preparedness and response, rural health, emergency medical services, health information technology, family and community health, and licensure and accreditation.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
view details
Describes activities and accomplishments of the South Dakota Department of Health in 2024. Includes sections on public health preparedness and response, rural health, emergency medical services, health information technology, family and community health, and licensure and accreditation.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
view details
Substance Use Prevalence Among Indiana Youth
Provides 2024 information on substance use among youth in Indiana, with data on 30-day use rates, highest use substances, monthly use of electronic vapor products and other substances, and prevalence rates of rural student substance use.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Youth Institute
view details
Provides 2024 information on substance use among youth in Indiana, with data on 30-day use rates, highest use substances, monthly use of electronic vapor products and other substances, and prevalence rates of rural student substance use.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Youth Institute
view details
Tennessee Child Fatality 2024 Annual Report
Detailed review of deaths of Tennessee children ages 0-17 in 2022. Includes a section on the Sources of Strength program, an initiative to promote mental health and prevent suicides in rural communities.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
view details
Detailed review of deaths of Tennessee children ages 0-17 in 2022. Includes a section on the Sources of Strength program, an initiative to promote mental health and prevent suicides in rural communities.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
view details
Understanding MAT Access in the Context of Unused MAT Capacity in the United States: When Increasing Rural MAT Capacity is Not Enough
Examines the factors related to buprenorphine prescriptions to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and the impacts of the federal DATA waiver to increase provider capacity. Utilizes multiple data sources to describe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) capacity, access, barriers, availability of MAT, and service area need in rural areas.
Author(s): Carolyn Carpenedo Mun, Rachel Zambrano, Eileen Tallman, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, 47
Date: 12/2024
view details
Examines the factors related to buprenorphine prescriptions to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and the impacts of the federal DATA waiver to increase provider capacity. Utilizes multiple data sources to describe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) capacity, access, barriers, availability of MAT, and service area need in rural areas.
Author(s): Carolyn Carpenedo Mun, Rachel Zambrano, Eileen Tallman, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, 47
Date: 12/2024
view details