Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Substance use and misuse
Pilot Study Examining the Effect of Rurality on Engagement and Abstinence for Adult Users of a Text-Message Cessation Intervention
Examines engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes of an Mobile health (mHealth) smoking cessation program in rural and nonrural populations. Utilizes feedback from participants enrolled in a 7-week mHealth smoking cessation program based in Virginia and their perceptions on program usefulness, helpfulness toward quitting, and overall satisfaction.
Author(s): James W. Kinchen, Melissa A. Little, Lee M. Ritterband, Kara P. Wiseman
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 4061
Date: 11/2025
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Examines engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes of an Mobile health (mHealth) smoking cessation program in rural and nonrural populations. Utilizes feedback from participants enrolled in a 7-week mHealth smoking cessation program based in Virginia and their perceptions on program usefulness, helpfulness toward quitting, and overall satisfaction.
Author(s): James W. Kinchen, Melissa A. Little, Lee M. Ritterband, Kara P. Wiseman
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 4061
Date: 11/2025
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Funding Rural Health: The Role and Reach of Federal Support
A series of briefs and spotlights focused on how the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supports population health in rural Kansas and the rural United States. Focuses on FORHP funding processes and organizational structure, distribution of funds, the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, and Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.
Author(s): Shelby C. Rowell, Wyatt J. Beckman, Viktoria Sterkhova
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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A series of briefs and spotlights focused on how the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supports population health in rural Kansas and the rural United States. Focuses on FORHP funding processes and organizational structure, distribution of funds, the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, and Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.
Author(s): Shelby C. Rowell, Wyatt J. Beckman, Viktoria Sterkhova
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Screening for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders at HIV Clinics in Alabama: A Qualitative Study
Examines barriers and facilitators related to implementation of electronic patient reported outcome measures (ePROs) to address mental health (MH) issues and substance use disorders (SUD) in people with HIV. Utilizes interview feedback from 15 staff at Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHP) clinics in Alabama regarding their experiences with the ePRO intervention, focusing on its impact in rural areas with an increased HIV burden.
Author(s): Ellen Eaton, C. Greer McCollum, Kelly W. Gagnon, Anna-Julia Enid Kutsch, Kaylee Burgan
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 1462
Date: 11/2025
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Examines barriers and facilitators related to implementation of electronic patient reported outcome measures (ePROs) to address mental health (MH) issues and substance use disorders (SUD) in people with HIV. Utilizes interview feedback from 15 staff at Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHP) clinics in Alabama regarding their experiences with the ePRO intervention, focusing on its impact in rural areas with an increased HIV burden.
Author(s): Ellen Eaton, C. Greer McCollum, Kelly W. Gagnon, Anna-Julia Enid Kutsch, Kaylee Burgan
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 1462
Date: 11/2025
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County-Level Vulnerability Is Associated with Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment among Rural Suicide Decedents: A National Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Study
Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
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Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
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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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