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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Illicit drug use

Prescribing Practices of Rural Physicians Waivered to Prescribe Buprenorphine
Highlights a study on the prescribing practices of rural physicians with buprenorphine waivers, which allowed them to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid used disorder. Findings are based on surveys of all rural physicians with a Drug Enforcement Administration prescription waiver. Breaks down data by physician specialty, practice type, and waiver type, among other factors.
Author(s): Holly A. Andrilla, Cynthia Coulthard, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6) S3, S208-S214
Date: 06/2018
Type: Document
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Promising Practice: Summits Tackle Opioid Misuse and Treatment in Rural Illinois
Describes the Opioid Crisis Next Door summits, a series of conferences sponsored by the Illinois Center for Rural Health (ICRH) to increase the awareness of the opioid and heroin crisis in rural communities, and to identify ways for these communities to effectively respond to their misuse.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Running the Numbers: County Level Dynamics of Heroin Mortality in North Carolina
Presents a study on opioid overdose mortality in North Carolina. Compares counties that have higher rates of overdose mortality with those with lower rates and aims to identify the factors that contribute to those rates.
Author(s): Alexander H Gunn, Bryce Bartlett, Grace Feng, et al.
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 79(3), 195-200
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
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As Fatal Overdoses Rise, Many Americans See Drug Addiction as a Major Problem in Their Community
Highlights the results of a Pew Research Center survey on fatal drug overdoses and public concern about the opioid crisis. Features data comparing rural, urban, and suburban areas.
Author(s): John Gramlich
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pew Research Center
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EMS Services in Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities
Policy brief describing challenges for rural EMS providers, including workforce shortages and inconsistent funding. Features statistics including percentage of potentially excess deaths for 5 leading causes of death, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and average EMS call time response and distribution of all-volunteer and all-paid staff EMS agencies, with breakdowns by 4 levels of population density. Discusses effects of the opioid crisis and Critical Access Hospital closures on provision of EMS services.
Author(s): Nikki King, Marcus Pigman, Sarah Huling, Brian Hanson
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Substance Use Among American Indian Youths on Reservations Compared With a National Sample of US Adolescents
Results of a study exploring substance use rates in 570 students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades in 31 schools during the 2016-2017 school year. Features statistics comparing reservation-based American Indian youth with U.S. students in general, with breakdowns by type of substance use and previous 30-day prevalence of alcohol and drug use.
Author(s): Randall C. Swaim, Linda R. Stanley
Citation: JAMA Network Open 1(1)
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
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Access to Syringe Services Programs — Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia, 2013–2017
Overview of the role of syringe services programs (SSPs) in reducing hepatitis C transmission related to injection drug use. Describes the expansion of SSPs in Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia from 2013 through August 1, 2017. Discusses the opportunity to improve access to care through SSPs, including access to related services such as medication-assisted treatment, which can be included in comprehensive SSPs.
Author(s): Danae Bixler, Greg Corby-Lee, Scott Proescholdbell, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(18), 529-532
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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2017 Colorado Opioid Safety Pilot Results Report
Describes an opioid safety pilot study that implemented the ALTO, or alternative to opioid, approach for pain treatment in 7 urban and 3 rural hospital emergency departments in Colorado. Discusses ALTO's multifaceted treatment approach for pain management, data collection and analysis, and lessons learned.
Additional links: Pre-Launch Checklist: Using Alternatives to Opioids (ALTOs) in Hospital Emergency Departments
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Hospital Association
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Reduction of Injection-Related Risk Behaviors After Emergency Implementation of a Syringe Services Program During an HIV Outbreak
Describes the emergency syringe services program (SSP) in rural Scott County, Indiana, the setting of a large HIV outbreak among persons who inject drugs (PWID). Demonstrates how the SSP was part of a comprehensive HIV prevention intervention to reduce injection-related HIV risk behaviors.
Author(s): Monita R. Patel, Carrie Foote, Joan Duwve, et al.
Citation: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 77(4), 373-382
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
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Death by Drugs: Colorado Reaches a Record High for Overdose Fatalities. Again.
Describes county-level estimates for drug overdose death rates in Colorado from 2001 through 2016 using data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Includes discussion on small counties experiencing high overdose rates, the rise of opioid overdoses and deaths, and covers policy implications.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Jaclyn Zubrzycki
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Health Institute
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