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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Prescription drug misuse

Rural Opioid Treatment Program Patient Perspectives on Take-Home Methadone Policy Changes During COVID-19: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Examines patient perspectives following policy changes in take-home methadone treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), based on qualitative interviews with 46 patients from 3 rural opioid treatment programs in Oregon. Highlights main themes related to adapting to the changing policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges and benefits of at-home dosing, and future policy and procedural changes.
Author(s): Ximena A. Levander, Kim A. Hoffman, John W. McIlveen, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 16, 72
Date: 12/2021
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Practical Tools for Prescribing and Promoting Buprenorphine in Primary Care Settings
Offers evidence-based information to support primary care providers in prescribing buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Addresses strategies and considerations for primary care providers and practices looking to implement the treatment, including the phases of care, training and education, and payment and pharmacy considerations. Chapter 2.7 covers buprenorphine prescribing in rural settings.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Robustness of Estimated Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Providers in Rural Vs. Urban Areas of the United States
Estimates level of access to opioid use disorder treatment at 31,053 locations in July 2020 for rural and urban opioid users by comparing drive time and availability of treatment. Discusses treatment differences between rural and urban opioid users with particular focus on infrastructure such as transportation and broadband, hospital closures, and health insurance status.
Author(s): Matthew V. Kiang, Michael L. Barnett, Sarah E. Wakeman, Keith Humphreys, Alexander C. Tsai
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 228, 109081
Date: 11/2021
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Traditional Cigarette and Poly-Tobacco Use Are Associated with Medical Opioid Use in Rural Areas of the US
Examines tobacco use and medical opioid use for rural populations based on 2019 National Health Interview Survey data. Describes the association between cigarette use and odds of medical opioid use, noting the potential impacts of tobacco cessation interventions on reducing opioid use.
Author(s): Mariaelena Gonzalez, Ashley Sanders-Jackson
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11864
Date: 11/2021
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Assessment of State and Federal Health Policies for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Examines state-level policy data from government and nonprofit agencies related to treatment access and treatment retention for patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes policy changes affecting telehealth coverage, delivery, and payment; issues of licensing and security; and the initiation and dispensing of treatment medications.
Author(s): Seema Chosky Pessar, Anne Boustead, Yimin Ge, Rosanna Smart, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(11), e213833
Date: 11/2021
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COVID-19 and the Rural Opioid Epidemic: Recommendations to Improve Health in Illinois
Examines the rural opioid epidemic in Illinois and offers policy recommendations to increase access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) centers, engaging populations involved with the criminal justice system, and expanding harm reduction services. Offers data on state opioid fatality rates with rural and urban comparisons and monthly mortality rates based on state Department of Public Health data. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the opioid epidemic.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organizations: SIU Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, SIU Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
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Grantee Spotlight: Building Capacity for Tribal Health Providers to Deliver OUD Treatment in Rural Alaska
Profile features the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and discusses its work supporting providers and organizations who provide treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in tribal communities in Alaska. Highlights some of the barriers to OUD treatment in rural Alaska and the methods used to overcome them.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE)
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Improving Methadone Access for Rural Communities in the USA: Lessons Learned from Covid-19 Adaptations and International Models of Care
Explores the effect of changes to methadone treatment protocols for opioid use disorder in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on access to treatment in rural areas. Discusses telehealth, dispensing schedules, and distribution models before and during the pandemic.
Author(s): Jamey J. Lister, Holly H. Lister
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(4)
Date: 11/2021
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Long-acting Buprenorphine Injectables: Opportunity to Improve Opioid Use Disorder Treatment among Rural Populations
Explores a study on the potential effect long-acting buprenorphine injectables could have on access to treatment of opioid use disorder in rural areas. Discusses the functionality of the medication, as well as the different patient populations and healthcare settings that could potentially benefit from them.
Author(s): Michelle R. Lofwall, Laura C. Fanucchi
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 152(2), 106756
Date: 11/2021
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County Data Highlight Links between Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome and Placement of Infants in Foster Care
Explores the relationship between neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and the rate of children entering the foster care system. Summarizes county-level data from eight states and highlights community level factors such as maternal education, healthcare, and rurality, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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