Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use
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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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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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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Pain in the Nation 2025: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Discreet but Accessible: A Qualitative Study with People Who Use Drugs and Service Staff about the Optimal Design of a Harm Reduction Vending Machine in Rural Kentucky
Analyzes perspectives on harm reduction vending machine (HRVM) access and suitability via interviews with people who use drugs as well as health department and syringe service program (SSP) staff in rural Appalachian Kentucky. Discusses factors influencing the usefulness of HRVMs and their ability to address public health needs such as infectious disease prevention, overdose reduction, and other community benefits.
Author(s): Rachel M. Marschke, April M. Young, Hannah K. Knudsen, Chelsi N. Cheatom, Hannah L. F. Cooper
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 22, 88
Date: 05/2025
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Analyzes perspectives on harm reduction vending machine (HRVM) access and suitability via interviews with people who use drugs as well as health department and syringe service program (SSP) staff in rural Appalachian Kentucky. Discusses factors influencing the usefulness of HRVMs and their ability to address public health needs such as infectious disease prevention, overdose reduction, and other community benefits.
Author(s): Rachel M. Marschke, April M. Young, Hannah K. Knudsen, Chelsi N. Cheatom, Hannah L. F. Cooper
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 22, 88
Date: 05/2025
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Reported Rural Drug Overdoses Decline 40 Percent in One Year (Pennsylvania)
Compares rates of drug overdoses in 2023 and 2024 in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. Features statistics on reported drug overdose rates per 100,000 during these years, percent of rural and urban residents receiving Naloxone in 2023 and 2024, demographic information on rural overdose victims, and a county-level map showing percent change in reported overdoses by county.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Compares rates of drug overdoses in 2023 and 2024 in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. Features statistics on reported drug overdose rates per 100,000 during these years, percent of rural and urban residents receiving Naloxone in 2023 and 2024, demographic information on rural overdose victims, and a county-level map showing percent change in reported overdoses by county.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Rural Access to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)
Examines access to, and services offered by, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in rural and urban communities. Also compares services at CCBHCs with those offered at other mental health clinics. Features state-level maps showing CCBHC counts by state, and statistics on services counts in CCBHCs and other mental health facilities, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffrey Talbert
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Examines access to, and services offered by, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in rural and urban communities. Also compares services at CCBHCs with those offered at other mental health clinics. Features state-level maps showing CCBHC counts by state, and statistics on services counts in CCBHCs and other mental health facilities, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffrey Talbert
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Impact of Recent Methamphetamine Use on Treatment Outcomes Among Individuals Initiating Medications for Opioid Use Disorders in Rural Treatment Settings: A 1-Year Retrospective Cohort Study
Explores the predictive role that methamphetamine urinalysis (UA) results in rural MOUD treatment intake has on methamphetamine and opioid use over time. Discusses the rise of co-use of opioids and methamphetamine and explores indicators for clinicians providing MOUD treatment.
Author(s): Leslie A Kenefick, Lisa Khairy, Luke Hall, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(2), 9536
Date: 04/2025
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Explores the predictive role that methamphetamine urinalysis (UA) results in rural MOUD treatment intake has on methamphetamine and opioid use over time. Discusses the rise of co-use of opioids and methamphetamine and explores indicators for clinicians providing MOUD treatment.
Author(s): Leslie A Kenefick, Lisa Khairy, Luke Hall, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(2), 9536
Date: 04/2025
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Different Forms of Stigma and Rural Primary Care Professionals' Willingness to Prescribe Buprenorphine
Presents a study exploring the different types of stigma affecting buprenorphine and other medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescribing rates in rural primary care settings. Details perceived stigmas around MOUD by providers, such as the fear of being harmed by patients, fear of their professional image being harmed, and the fear of the medications harming their patients.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Sean Bogart, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 171, 209633
Date: 04/2025
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Presents a study exploring the different types of stigma affecting buprenorphine and other medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescribing rates in rural primary care settings. Details perceived stigmas around MOUD by providers, such as the fear of being harmed by patients, fear of their professional image being harmed, and the fear of the medications harming their patients.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Sean Bogart, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 171, 209633
Date: 04/2025
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Barriers and Facilitators to Scaling up Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Kentucky: Qualitative Perspectives of Treatment Organization Staff
Examines perspectives from substance use treatment program staff related to the barriers and facilitators of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) utilization. Provides qualitative feedback data from agency staff in Kentucky and discusses organizational, patient, and community factors that impact MOUD utilization. Includes perspectives from rural areas.
Author(s): Hannah K. Knudsen, Shaquita Andrews-Higgins, Sandra Back-Haddix, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 15
Date: 04/2025
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Examines perspectives from substance use treatment program staff related to the barriers and facilitators of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) utilization. Provides qualitative feedback data from agency staff in Kentucky and discusses organizational, patient, and community factors that impact MOUD utilization. Includes perspectives from rural areas.
Author(s): Hannah K. Knudsen, Shaquita Andrews-Higgins, Sandra Back-Haddix, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 15
Date: 04/2025
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