Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Substance use and misuse
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
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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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
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
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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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
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Extra Episode - Rural Communities Opioid Response Program with Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donell
Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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MotherToBaby Gives Rural Pregnant and Breastfeeding Moms 'Fingertip Access' to Exposure Experts
Provides an overview of MotherToBaby, which works to educate pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their healthcare providers on the risks of exposures. Discusses how MotherToBaby's free services can support rural mothers, highlighting programs serving rural areas in Georgia and North Texas.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of MotherToBaby, which works to educate pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their healthcare providers on the risks of exposures. Discusses how MotherToBaby's free services can support rural mothers, highlighting programs serving rural areas in Georgia and North Texas.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Burden of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Related Behavioral Stressors of Students in Pennsylvania Schools
Results of a study investigating the stress effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural and urban Pennsylvania students' mental health. Uses primary and secondary data to compute a mental health stress index of youth mental stress levels and to examine the impact of the pandemic on youth behaviors.
Author(s): S.N. Gajanan
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of a study investigating the stress effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural and urban Pennsylvania students' mental health. Uses primary and secondary data to compute a mental health stress index of youth mental stress levels and to examine the impact of the pandemic on youth behaviors.
Author(s): S.N. Gajanan
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Houselessness and Syringe Service Program Utilization among People Who Inject Drugs in Eight Rural Areas Across the USA: A Cross-sectional Analysis
Examines the relationship between houselessness and syringe service program (SSP) use among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural areas. Analyzes survey data from self-identified PWID across 10 states and explores data on PWID demographic profile, related drug use, proximity to SSPs, and more. Discusses housing instability in rural areas and potential barriers to SSP use.
Author(s): April M. Ballard, Dylan Falk, Harris Greenwood, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 20, 157
Date: 10/2023
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Examines the relationship between houselessness and syringe service program (SSP) use among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural areas. Analyzes survey data from self-identified PWID across 10 states and explores data on PWID demographic profile, related drug use, proximity to SSPs, and more. Discusses housing instability in rural areas and potential barriers to SSP use.
Author(s): April M. Ballard, Dylan Falk, Harris Greenwood, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 20, 157
Date: 10/2023
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Telemedicine Buprenorphine Initiation and Retention in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for Medicaid Enrollees
Evaluated buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine and overdose outcomes for 91,914 people in Kentucky and Ohio on Medicaid in 2020 to determine the impact of telemedicine on treatment retention and opioid-related nonfatal overdose. Includes discussion on the implications for rural residents.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Aimee Mack, Redonna K. Chandler, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(10), e2336914
Date: 10/2023
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Evaluated buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine and overdose outcomes for 91,914 people in Kentucky and Ohio on Medicaid in 2020 to determine the impact of telemedicine on treatment retention and opioid-related nonfatal overdose. Includes discussion on the implications for rural residents.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Aimee Mack, Redonna K. Chandler, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(10), e2336914
Date: 10/2023
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The Costs and Benefits of Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Illinois: County Level Analysis
Provides an analysis of costs and benefits of recreational marijuana in metro versus nonmetro counties in Illinois. Includes data on cannabis sales by month as well as tax estimates, healthcare costs, and average usage by county and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Provides an analysis of costs and benefits of recreational marijuana in metro versus nonmetro counties in Illinois. Includes data on cannabis sales by month as well as tax estimates, healthcare costs, and average usage by county and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Alaska Facts and Figures: 2022 Drug Overdoses Mortality Update (September 2023)
Describes the number and rate of drug overdose mortality for Alaska residents from 2013 to 2022 by year. Covers drug overdoses by five year rolling average and sex, race, age group, and public health region.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Division of Public Health
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Describes the number and rate of drug overdose mortality for Alaska residents from 2013 to 2022 by year. Covers drug overdoses by five year rolling average and sex, race, age group, and public health region.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Division of Public Health
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Adolescent Advertising Exposure to Cannabis Products in Rural Oklahoma via Medical Dispensaries
Examines exposure to cannabis advertising among adolescents in rural Oklahoma, utilizing observations of medical dispensaries which were within a 15-minute drive from high schools in 20 rural, largely American Indian, Oklahoma communities. Includes data on the display of product advertisements and price promotions, number of dispensaries available within 15 minutes of high schools, and other dispensary characteristics.
Author(s): Melvin Livingston, Caroline Barry, Andrew Walker, et al.
Citation: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 84(5), 693-699
Date: 09/2023
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Examines exposure to cannabis advertising among adolescents in rural Oklahoma, utilizing observations of medical dispensaries which were within a 15-minute drive from high schools in 20 rural, largely American Indian, Oklahoma communities. Includes data on the display of product advertisements and price promotions, number of dispensaries available within 15 minutes of high schools, and other dispensary characteristics.
Author(s): Melvin Livingston, Caroline Barry, Andrew Walker, et al.
Citation: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 84(5), 693-699
Date: 09/2023
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