Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Substance use and misuse

Overdose Prevention Policy Considerations: A Policy Playbook for State and Territorial Health Officials and Agencies
Provides an overview of policy considerations related to overdose prevention, with a focus on health equity and stigma reduction, community distribution, drug checking equipment, syringe service programs, and substance use support peer programs. Includes case examples, strategies for overdose prevention interventions, and considerations for rural and frontier areas.
Author(s): Victoria Pless, Kaela Hurd, Kayley Humm, Arieana Love
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
view details
The Impact of Fentanyl on State- and County-Level Psychostimulant and Cocaine Overdose Death Rates by Race in Ohio from 2010 to 2020: A Time Series and Spatiotemporal Analysis
Analyzes the role of fentanyl in overdose deaths in Ohio. Examines 2010-2020 state- and county-level overdose mortality rates with data further broken down by drug type and race/ethnicity. Discusses related geographical factors such as rurality and Appalachian region.
Author(s): Angela T. Estadt, Brian N. White, JaNelle M. Ricks, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 13
Date: 01/2024
view details
Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools: Findings From the School Survey on Crime and Safety, 2021–22
Reports on crime and violence in U.S. public schools based on data from the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS). Includes programs and practices in schools to prevent crime as well as data tables on recorded incidents of crime, threats and physical attacks, hate crimes, substance abuse issues, mental health factors, and more. Include breakdowns of crime and violence variables by city, suburb, town, or rural location.
Author(s): Riley Burr, Jana Kemp Ke, Wang
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, National Center for Education Statistics
view details
Temporal Trends in Substance Use and Cardiovascular Disease–Related Mortality in the United States
Analyzes 636,572 death certificates to identify trends for both substance use and cardiovascular disease-related mortality between 1999 and 2019. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, type of substance use, and more. Includes state-level comparisons.
Author(s): Abdul Mannan Khan Minhas, Jakrin Kewcharoen, Michael E. Hall, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association 13(2)
Date: 01/2024
view details
Arkansas State Health Improvement Plan 2024-2029
Offers data on Arkansas health in 5 priority areas: access to care, addiction and mental health, infectious disease and vaccinations, maternal mortality, and obesity. Discusses trends over time and identifies action steps to improve health indicators. Includes rural-specific considerations throughout.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Health
view details
Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Arkansas 2024
Provides state, region, and county-level data for Arkansas related to substance abuse by youth. Identifies risk factors associated with drug and alcohol abuse, such as the number of arrests, unemployment, school infractions, tobacco and cannabis retailers, and more, as well as associated public health outcomes such as substance use-related mortality.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training
view details
A Guide to Understanding Mental Health Systems and Services in Texas
Presents an overview of the mental health system in Texas to help policymakers, advocates, and individuals, including the structure of and services provided by Texas state agencies. Discusses implications and outcomes of rural mental health and substance abuse prevention policy and programs.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
view details
America's Children: Special Issue 2024, Maternal and Infant Health and Well-Being
Examines the factors predicting maternal and infant well-being. Breaks down data by a number of measures, including food insecurity, vaccinations, maternal health, prenatal care, and more. Select data on Tdap vaccinations, smoking during pregnancy, adequacy of prenatal care, and maternal mortality are available by metro versus nonmetro location.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
view details
Mental Health in Rural America
Fact sheet on USDA Rural Development funding for mental health and substance use disorder treatment in rural communities in fiscal year 2024. Highlights USDA investments in programs serving rural Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
view details
America's Health Rankings 2024 Health of Women and Children Report
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in mental health conditions, education, obesity, and smoking among reproductive-age women at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
view details