Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Substance use and misuse
Missed Opportunities for Tobacco Dependence Treatment among U.S. Veterans Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: An Observational Cohort Study
Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
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Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
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Medicare Payment Basics: Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Services Payment System
Overview of Medicare's payment system for inpatient psychiatric services provided in freestanding hospitals or specialized hospital-based units. Demonstrates how payments for these services are adjusted to reflect geographic differences in labor costs, and cost of care by facility and patient characteristics.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Overview of Medicare's payment system for inpatient psychiatric services provided in freestanding hospitals or specialized hospital-based units. Demonstrates how payments for these services are adjusted to reflect geographic differences in labor costs, and cost of care by facility and patient characteristics.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Gendered Motivations for E-Cigarette Use Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth: A Relational–Cultural Perspective
Explores differing perspectives on e-cigarette use among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander boys and girls, utilizing focus group discussion excerpts of 69 rural public school students on Hawai'i Island. Discusses personal motivations, cultural influences, and strategies for the avoidance of e-cigarette use.
Author(s): Sarah D. Song, Zarek K. Kon, Tea A. Stephens, et al.
Citation: Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 37(8), 705-711
Date: 10/2025
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Explores differing perspectives on e-cigarette use among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander boys and girls, utilizing focus group discussion excerpts of 69 rural public school students on Hawai'i Island. Discusses personal motivations, cultural influences, and strategies for the avoidance of e-cigarette use.
Author(s): Sarah D. Song, Zarek K. Kon, Tea A. Stephens, et al.
Citation: Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 37(8), 705-711
Date: 10/2025
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Benzodiazepines and Opioid Co-Use Among Rural People Who Use Drugs: Findings From the Rural Opioid Initiative
Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults: Any Use and Concurrent Use With Opioids
Statistical brief examining rates of prescription benzodiazepine use by demographic group, insurance type, and health status, using 2021-2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. See Figure 6 for metro-nonmetro comparison data on benzodiazepine use and concurrent benzodiazepine-opioid use.
Author(s): Salam Abdus, G. Edward Miller
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief examining rates of prescription benzodiazepine use by demographic group, insurance type, and health status, using 2021-2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. See Figure 6 for metro-nonmetro comparison data on benzodiazepine use and concurrent benzodiazepine-opioid use.
Author(s): Salam Abdus, G. Edward Miller
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Strength in Community: Native Youth Leading HPV Cancer Prevention
Discusses the Southeastern American Indian Cancer Health Equity Partnership (SAICEP), a cancer prevention initiative focused on addressing cancer burdens through partnerships with North Carolina's tribal nations and urban Indian organizations. Details SAICEP's current initiative to encourage youth cancer prevention advocacy, including strategies related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, tobacco use reduction, and sun safety.
Author(s): Ryan Dial
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Discusses the Southeastern American Indian Cancer Health Equity Partnership (SAICEP), a cancer prevention initiative focused on addressing cancer burdens through partnerships with North Carolina's tribal nations and urban Indian organizations. Details SAICEP's current initiative to encourage youth cancer prevention advocacy, including strategies related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, tobacco use reduction, and sun safety.
Author(s): Ryan Dial
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Health Behaviors and Injury among New Mexican Adults: Results from the 2023 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Reports on health behaviors and injuries in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data, covering topics including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, physical activity, firearm safety, seatbelt use, suicidal ideation, sexual violence, and fall injuries. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Reports on health behaviors and injuries in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data, covering topics including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, physical activity, firearm safety, seatbelt use, suicidal ideation, sexual violence, and fall injuries. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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2025 Arkansas State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup: Annual Profile of Substance Use
Provides information on youth and adult substance abuse in Arkansas to help guide substance abuse prevention decision-making. Highlights consequences such as arrests, suicide, and depression and focuses on alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and prescription drug use. Includes county-level profiles and an overview of a variety of community and personal health indicators.
Additional links: County Report
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Provides information on youth and adult substance abuse in Arkansas to help guide substance abuse prevention decision-making. Highlights consequences such as arrests, suicide, and depression and focuses on alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and prescription drug use. Includes county-level profiles and an overview of a variety of community and personal health indicators.
Additional links: County Report
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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South Carolina 2025-2030 State Health Improvement Plan
Describes a plan for public health improvement in South Carolina. Identifies priorities, strategies, and metrics for topics including health outcomes, maternal and infant health, and behavioral health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Department of Public Health
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Describes a plan for public health improvement in South Carolina. Identifies priorities, strategies, and metrics for topics including health outcomes, maternal and infant health, and behavioral health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Department of Public Health
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Cost of Implementing Evidence-Based Practices to Reduce Opioid Overdose Fatalities in New York State Communities
Presents a study on the cost of implementing an intervention to deploy opioid education, naloxone distribution, and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural and urban locations in New York. Evaluates data from two time periods, or waves, from January 2020 to June 2022 and July 2022 to December 2023.
Author(s): Jazmine M. Li, Dawn Gruss, Timothy Hunt, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 77
Date: 10/2025
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Presents a study on the cost of implementing an intervention to deploy opioid education, naloxone distribution, and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural and urban locations in New York. Evaluates data from two time periods, or waves, from January 2020 to June 2022 and July 2022 to December 2023.
Author(s): Jazmine M. Li, Dawn Gruss, Timothy Hunt, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 77
Date: 10/2025
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