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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Substance use and misuse

Rural and Urban Substance Use Differences: Effects of the Transition to College
Details a study on the differences in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among college students from rural and urban areas. Looks at rates of usage for freshman, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in a large, public university in the Southeastern U.S. Breaks down data by age and sex.
Author(s): Karen J. Derefinko, Zoran Bursac, Michael G. Mejia, Richard Milich, Donald R. Lynam
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 44(2), 224-234
Date: 2018
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Child Welfare and Substance Use
Discusses a study on the relationship between substance use, specifically opioid misuse, and child welfare caseloads. Explores reports of child abuse and foster care entries along with drug mortality rates and retail opioid sales. Features rural information in the second and third reports.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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The Opioid Crisis in Rural and Small Town America
Provides data on opioid mortality rates in 2016 and changes in opioid mortality from 1999 through 2016 for metropolitan and nonmetro counties. Also provides metro/nonmetro data on drug overdoses by type of opioid - heroin, prescription opioids, synthetic opioids, and unspecified opioids - from 1999 through 2016. Discusses challenges rural areas face in addressing the opioid crisis.
Author(s): Shannon M. Monnat, Khary K. Rigg
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Leading a Faith-Based Charge Against Opioid Abuse: How a Minnesota Rural Health Organization Became a National Leader
Describes prescription drug abuse treatment efforts of CHI St. Gabriel's Health, a multifacility rural health organization in Little Falls, Minnesota.
Author(s): Patrick Rioux
Citation: Health Progress, 99(2), 29-32
Date: 2018
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Portraying a More Complete Picture of Illicit Drug Use Epidemiology and Policy for Rural America: A Competing Viewpoint to the CDC's MMWR Report
Commentary on the CDC MMWR report, Illicit Drug Use, Illicit Drug Use Disorders, and Drug Overdose Deaths in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas — United States. Discusses a range of factors that may impact our understanding of nonmetropolitan drug use and identifies additional studies that have been undertaken related to nonmetro drug use. Also discusses potential differences in effective ways to address drug use in nonmetro compared to metro areas.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 34(1), 3-5
Date: 2018
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Vermont Results First: Inventory and Benefit-Cost Analysis for the Department of Health/Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program's Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (Hub and Spoke)
Examines the program inventory and benefit-cost analysis of Vermont's Care Alliance for Opioid Addiction, a "Hub and Spoke" system of regional opioid treatment programs that treat individuals with opioid use disorder using medication along with counseling and supportive services.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Criminal Research Group, Results First Initiative, Justice Research and Statistics Association, State of Vermont Blueprint for Health, Vermont Department of Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP)
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Preventing Farm-Related Stress, Depression, Substance Abuse, and Suicide
Discusses stressors specific to farmers, their families, and rural communities, offering information on recognizing signs of depression, substance abuse, and suicide risk. Offers strategies for managing stress and lists resources for suicide prevention, substance abuse treatment, and farm and ranch stress and depression. Part of the collected volume Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn.
Additional links: Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn
Author(s): Rebekka M. Dudensing, Samuel D. Towne, Carly E. McCord
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Southern Extension Risk Management Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Examining Substance Use Disorder Treatment Demand and Provider Capacity in a Changing Health Care System: Final Report
Assesses demand and capacity for substance use disorder treatment, with comparisons between years 2013 and 2016. Features statistics including numbers of clients, staff hours, percentage of facilities offering pharmacotherapies and accepting various insurance types, and distribution of specialty treatments, with breakdowns by urban and rural locations.
Author(s): Ellen Bouchery
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Vermont Hub-and-Spoke Model of Care for Opioid Use Disorders: An Evaluation
Details an evaluation of Vermont's hub-and-spoke model of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction. Discusses the system's successes and areas that need focus and improvement.
Additional links: Summary Brief
Author(s): Richard A. Rawson
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Center on Behavior & Health
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Prevalence and Disparities in Tobacco Product Use Among American Indians/Alaska Natives — United States, 2010-2015
Examines the use of five types of tobacco - cigarettes, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, pipes, and smokeless tobacco - among American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) compared to non-AI/ANs, with data by sex, age, education level, poverty level, and other factors.
Author(s): Satomi Odani, Brian S. Armour, Corinne M. Graffunder, Bridgette E. Garrett, Israel T. Agaku
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(50), 1374-1378
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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