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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use

High-Risk Individuals and Naloxone Use: Implications for THN Programs in Rural Appalachian Communities
Presents thematic analysis of factors influencing opioid overdose and naloxone use from interviews with 16 people who use opioid drugs in 4 rural, Appalachian Pennsylvania counties. Identifies opioid overdose risk factors, including substance use habits, as well as factors facilitating or preventing effective naloxone interventions. Covers naloxone access and knowledge, experiences, attitudes toward first responders, and disconnects between naloxone intervention and opioid dependence treatment.
Author(s): Victor Garcia, Lisa McCann, Erick Lauber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 5(3), 9-21
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Retention in Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Among Rural Populations: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Highlights a study on the efficacy of telehealth-based treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) for rural populations. Draws patient data from 2020-2022 across 14 states and breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as insurance status, education, and rurality, among other measures. Explores retention in care and adherence over a 6 month treatment period.
Author(s): Marlene C. Lira, Cynthia Jimes, M. Justin Coffey
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 29(12), 1890-1896
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Oversight Hearing titled, "Fentanyl in Native Communities: Federal Perspectives on Addressing the Growing Crisis"
Recording of a Congressional hearing addressing fentanyl among Native communities. Includes testimony from federal officials discussing previous efforts and future priorities for solving the opioid crisis. Subtitles available in the video player.
Additional links: Adam W. Cohen Testimony, Glen Melville Testimony, The Honorable Roselyn Tso Testimony, The Honorable Vanessa Waldref Testimony
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Scaling up Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in Kentucky: Adoption and Reach Achieved Through a "Hub with Many Spokes" Model
Examines a hub-and-spoke model for overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) in Kentucky. Discusses the efficacy of a university-based naloxone dispensing unit and the related adopting organizations to provide technical assistance, education, and no-cost naloxone. Analyzes rural versus urban OEND and the impact of rurality on OEND.
Author(s): Hannah K. Knudsen, Patricia R. Freeman, Douglas R. Oyler, Carrie B. Oser, Sharon L. Walsh
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 18(72)
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Methadone Prescribing by Addiction Specialists Likely to Leave Communities Without Available Methadone Treatment
Examines two policy proposals for expanding access to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder. Highlights the impact on availability in rural areas. Discusses the role of mental health professional shortage areas and Federally Qualified Health Centers in each proposal.
Author(s): Paul J. Joudrey, Dylan Halpern, Qinyun Lin, et al
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(5)
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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RCORP: Helping Meet Rural Needs
Video series featuring the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative that funds a range of grant programs to help rural communities treat and prevent opioid use disorder. RCORP grantees share how they have used this funding to address the needs of their communities.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Substance Use Among Rural Adolescents With Incarcerated Parents: Evidence From a State-Wide Sample
Presents a study on the potential correlation between parental incarceration and rural adolescent substance use. Draws data from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey and breaks down findings by age, household substance use, and poverty, among other factors.
Author(s): Luke Muentner, Katie K. McLaughlin, Rebecca Shlafer
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 338-347
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Fentanyl in Native Communities: Native Perspectives on Addressing the Growing Crisis
Recording of a November 8, 2023 hearing discussing fentanyl in both Native Hawaiian and American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. Features testimony from Lummi Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota, Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, and representatives of the behavioral health and public health fields. Discusses the criminal justice system, behavioral health workforce shortages, health impacts of historical trauma, and more. Captions available within the video player.
Additional links: Dr. A. Aukahi Austin Seabury, Ph.D., I Ola Lāhui, Inc. - Testimony, Dr. Claradina Soto, Ph.D., Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California - Testimony, Mr. Eric M. Gettis, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium - Testimony, The Honorable Bryce Kirk, Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck - Testimony, The Honorable Jamie S. Azure, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota - Testimony, The Honorable Tony Hillaire, Lummi Nation - Testimony
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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The Opioid Crisis in the Pandemic Era
Analyzes trends in opioid use during the 2019-2021 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides information on the history of the opioid crisis and mortality rates by age, race/ethnicity, type of opioid, state, and urbanicity, including non-metro, small/medium metro, and large metro.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions related to paying separately for Community Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment, and Principal Illness Navigation services; telehealth services; mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); including marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as eligible for payment at RHCs and FQHCs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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