Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use
Satisfaction with Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Among Individuals Living in Rural and Nonrural Areas
Presents a study on the care satisfaction and provider-patient relationship of telehealth-based opioid use disorder treatment. Bases conclusions on the results of a participant survey and breaks down data by participant characteristics, their reason for preferring telehealth treatment, and rural versus nonrural location.
Author(s): Lauren Hendy, Amanda Olguin, Cynthia Jimes, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 31(8), 1039-1046
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study on the care satisfaction and provider-patient relationship of telehealth-based opioid use disorder treatment. Bases conclusions on the results of a participant survey and breaks down data by participant characteristics, their reason for preferring telehealth treatment, and rural versus nonrural location.
Author(s): Lauren Hendy, Amanda Olguin, Cynthia Jimes, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 31(8), 1039-1046
Date: 08/2025
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Pharmacy Barriers to Receiving Buprenorphine among Patients Undergoing Telemedicine Addiction Treatment
Presents a study exploring pharmacy-level barriers experienced by patients with opioid use disorder who are receiving treatment via telemedicine. Discusses barriers that lead to missed doses or inaccessible prescriptions. Breaks down data by health and demographic characteristics, such as age, education, and insurance type, among others, and whether the patient lived in a rural or nonrural area.
Author(s): Lauren E. Hendy, Lucas G. Hill, Amanda Olguin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2527418
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study exploring pharmacy-level barriers experienced by patients with opioid use disorder who are receiving treatment via telemedicine. Discusses barriers that lead to missed doses or inaccessible prescriptions. Breaks down data by health and demographic characteristics, such as age, education, and insurance type, among others, and whether the patient lived in a rural or nonrural area.
Author(s): Lauren E. Hendy, Lucas G. Hill, Amanda Olguin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2527418
Date: 08/2025
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Opportunities for Employers to Address the Opioid Epidemic: Results from a National Survey
Surveys 1,010 employees to learn their perspective on the Recovery-Ready Workplace (RRW) framework, a federally created opioid intervention for employers. Evaluates the implementation of the 4 areas addressed by RRW, noting areas for improvement related to Narcan access, stigma, and work arrangements that accommodate treatment.
Author(s): Gillian K. SteelFisher, Brian C. Castrucci, Mary G. Findling, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(8)
Date: 08/2025
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Surveys 1,010 employees to learn their perspective on the Recovery-Ready Workplace (RRW) framework, a federally created opioid intervention for employers. Evaluates the implementation of the 4 areas addressed by RRW, noting areas for improvement related to Narcan access, stigma, and work arrangements that accommodate treatment.
Author(s): Gillian K. SteelFisher, Brian C. Castrucci, Mary G. Findling, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(8)
Date: 08/2025
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Drug Overdose Deaths in Kentucky, 2019–2024: Are We Back to Pre-COVID-19 Levels?
Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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Prescribed Medications for Patients with Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Use Disorder Seen in Rural-Serving Pacific Northwest Primary Care Clinics
Examines the frequency in which patients living in the rural Pacific Northwest with amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder (AT-StUD) received medications for AT-StUD in primary care clinics. Utilizes 2017-2021 electronic health record (EHR) data to analyze patients who have received prescriptions according to demographics, mental health status, and health behaviors.
Author(s): Megan J. Yerton, Connor J. McCabe, Matthew D. Iles-Shih, Judith I. Tsui, Kevin A. Hallgren
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 67
Date: 08/2025
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Examines the frequency in which patients living in the rural Pacific Northwest with amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder (AT-StUD) received medications for AT-StUD in primary care clinics. Utilizes 2017-2021 electronic health record (EHR) data to analyze patients who have received prescriptions according to demographics, mental health status, and health behaviors.
Author(s): Megan J. Yerton, Connor J. McCabe, Matthew D. Iles-Shih, Judith I. Tsui, Kevin A. Hallgren
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 67
Date: 08/2025
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Examining Geographic Disparities in Access to No-Cost Naloxone in North Carolina: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Naloxone Distribution Programs
Presents a study exploring the geographic distribution of no-cost naloxone in North Carolina. Bases findings on a survey of naloxone distributors in the state and breaks down data by user demographics and distributor type.
Author(s): Grace Marley, Caroline Shubel, Carolyn T. Thorpe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70069
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study exploring the geographic distribution of no-cost naloxone in North Carolina. Bases findings on a survey of naloxone distributors in the state and breaks down data by user demographics and distributor type.
Author(s): Grace Marley, Caroline Shubel, Carolyn T. Thorpe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70069
Date: 08/2025
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Illegally Made Fentanyl Use in the United States: 2022 and 2023
Report highlights findings from the 2022 and 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on the use of illegally made fentanyl across the U.S. Explores co-usage with other drugs, emergency room visits/hospitalizations, and breaks down user characteristics by age, poverty level, and rurality, among other measures.
Citation: NSDUH Data Brief, 2(2)
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report highlights findings from the 2022 and 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on the use of illegally made fentanyl across the U.S. Explores co-usage with other drugs, emergency room visits/hospitalizations, and breaks down user characteristics by age, poverty level, and rurality, among other measures.
Citation: NSDUH Data Brief, 2(2)
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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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: 07/2025
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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: 07/2025
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Evaluation of the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model: Fourth Annual Report (Implementation Year 3)
Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's second implementation year, July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024, and summarizes qualitative and beneficiary-level process data findings by state awardee. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum women with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Westat
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Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's second implementation year, July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024, and summarizes qualitative and beneficiary-level process data findings by state awardee. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum women with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Westat
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The Opioid Epidemic in Rural Communities: Can Telehealth Increase Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Offset Barriers to Care?
Examines the impact of telehealth on access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Utilizes data from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program's (RCORP) consortia, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze access to MOUD and rates of telehealth use for rural consortia. Discusses potential barriers and factors impacting telehealth implementation for SUD and OUD care.
Author(s): Kathleen Meyers, Shannon Herman, Heather Schuler, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 271, 112628
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of telehealth on access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Utilizes data from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program's (RCORP) consortia, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze access to MOUD and rates of telehealth use for rural consortia. Discusses potential barriers and factors impacting telehealth implementation for SUD and OUD care.
Author(s): Kathleen Meyers, Shannon Herman, Heather Schuler, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 271, 112628
Date: 06/2025
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