https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/opioids Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis resources related to rural health, with information provided by the Rural Health Information Hub en Copyright 2026 Rural Health Information Hub https://www.naco.org/event/rural-resilience-strategic-responses-opioid-epidemic -- National Association of Counties https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/events/25293 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:29:33 -0500 https://www.ky3.com/2026/05/27/whats-going-around-mercy-pilots-opioid-addiction-program-reach-rural-communities/ Highlights a rural Missouri hospital pilot program ensuring discharged patients with an opioid addiction have medication treatment and quick access to a substance use recovery program. The program aims to reduce chances of relapse and a return hospital visit. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38591 Thu, 28 May 2026 10:45:12 -0500 https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/products/playbooks/financing-toolkit Interactive toolkit aims to help primary care providers build and maintain financially sustainable integrated behavioral health (IBH) models into their practices. Highlights models for creating funding streams that can sustain IBH models. Provides substance use resources, a literature collection, and case studies, among other resources, to support IBH program planning and implementation. -- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/28011 Wed, 27 May 2026 10:46:02 -0500 https://www.aol.com/news/mercy-program-changes-opioid-addiction-085730136.html Mercy Hospital Lebanon is piloting a program to help rural Ozarks substance use disorder patients get support during the crucial 72-hour period after opioid withdrawal. The program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration and is now available at other Missouri communities including Aurora, Cassville, Carthage, and Mountain Home. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38570 Thu, 21 May 2026 10:03:59 -0500 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/star-lrp -- Bureau of Health Workforce https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/events/25236 Tue, 19 May 2026 11:42:33 -0500 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/star-lrp -- Bureau of Health Workforce https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/events/25235 Tue, 19 May 2026 11:39:58 -0500 https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/6542 Grants to support planning and preparation activities to create a strong base for substance use disorder (SUD) and related services and build capacity to develop, implement, and sustain these services. The funding is designed to serve as a critical first step to creating SUD service systems that make care easy to access, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, gain strong community support, and prepare communities to deliver prevention, treatment, recovery, and other supportive services over the long term. -- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/6542 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:52:56 -0500 https://www.uvmcora.org/ptsd-oud-toolkit/ Toolkit provides evidence-based assessments, treatment and training materials, and educational resources for behavioral health professionals providing care to rural people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder (OUD). Discusses the challenges of treating OUD with co-occurring PTSD and highlights strategies for assessment, counseling, and/or referrals. -- University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27818 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:24:44 -0500 https://familymedicine.uw.edu/rhrc/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/04/RHRC_PBAPR2026_COM_Andrilla.pdf Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care. -- WWAMI Rural Health Research Center https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27810 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:41:41 -0500 https://familymedicine.uw.edu/rhrc/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/04/RHRC_PBAPR2026_Graves.pdf Presents a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and enrolled in Medicaid in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures. -- WWAMI Rural Health Research Center https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27797 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:06:38 -0500 https://familymedicine.uw.edu/rhrc/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/04/RHRC_PBAPR2026_Andrilla.pdf Details a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and covered by commercial insurance in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, provider type, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures. -- WWAMI Rural Health Research Center https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27798 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:09 -0500 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-6773.70110 Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27680 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:13:13 -0500 https://npnconference.org/ https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/events/25087 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:49:45 -0500 https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/advisory-expanding-behavioral-health-teams-care-deserts-pep26-07-001.pdf Report explores the role community health workers can play in expanding behavioral health access to rural areas and care deserts. Highlights how community health workers can support behavioral health access through outreach activities, serving as community liaisons, screening for behavioral health concerns, and providing community education, among other measures. -- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27614 Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:30:44 -0500 https://familymedicine.uw.edu/rhrc/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/RHRC_PBMAR2026_Andrilla.pdf Results of a study describing the treatment for rural and urban Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder in 2019. Features demographics and statistics on number of visits and travel time and distance, with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. -- WWAMI Rural Health Research Center https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27546 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:17:15 -0500 https://attcnetwork.org/products_and_resources/empowering-rural-communities-overcoming-barriers-to-treatment/ Webinar recording discusses the ways rural communities can overcome barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and uptake. Explores substance use data for rural communities and outlines common barriers, such as travel times and distance to care, provider shortages, and concerns about stigma and patient confidentiality. Highlights strategies for rural communities to leverage their community bonds and faith communities to address SUD, and details models for expanding treatment and patient support in rural areas. -- Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27459 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:15:31 -0600 https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/advisory-model-standards-crisis-care-workers-pep25-07-017.pdf Proposes national standards for crisis care workers responding to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and other behavioral health hotlines. Outlines 10 different standards for crisis care workers, such as core values and competencies; education, training, and qualifications; and standards for supervision, among others. Discusses some considerations for rural communities, such as lack of transportation and workforce shortages. -- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27452 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:34:59 -0600 https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/6481 An online training on the efficacy and dissemination of contingency management as a model for treatment of stimulant, tobacco, and other substance use disorders. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/6481 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:09:46 -0600 https://www.fletchergroup.org/2023/10/02/economic-calculator/ Tool helps substance use disorder (SUD) recovery programs make better financial decisions and attract the support of funders, stakeholders, community members, and policymakers. Outlines the methodology behind the calculator and provides an example report. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27384 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:42:33 -0600 https://www.umu.com/index?eid=FletcherGroup#/index Provides training at no cost for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery programs. Focuses on building recovery support systems, including recovery housing and peer support systems. Resources are aimed at rural communities but are relevant to all SUD recovery situations. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27375 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:38:54 -0600 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11870797/ Presents a study on the role of family, friends, and clinicians can play in influencing naltrexone treatment uptake of people with opioid use disorder (POUD) who are incarcerated in Appalachia. Bases findings on interviews with clinicians and breaks down data by sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and social network composition, among other measures. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27324 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:30:48 -0600 https://www.nativeoverdoseresource.org/ Provides resources for tribal communities working to address substance use and overdose prevention. Includes information and guidance for establishing and funding substance use and overdose prevention programs in tribal communities, as well as a collection of best practices and model programs. -- National Network of Public Health Institutes, University of Washington https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27112 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:47:33 -0600 https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt56978/2024-nsduh-data-brief-young-adult.pdf Report details the substance use trends for young adults from 2021 to 2024 based on the findings from the Nation Survey on Drug Use and Health. Identifies substance use patterns and breaks down data by age, substance used, and whether participants resided in a large or small metropolitan or nonmetro county. -- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27029 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:01:21 -0600 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21501319251391284 Presents a study exploring the feasibility of implementing an intervention to improve primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge, confidence, and adoption of naloxone-related practices in rural Federally Qualified Health Centers. Study involves 30 PCPs in rural Arkansas, with 15 receiving a 30-minute virtual training on naloxone. Breaks down data by PCP profession type as well as Health Professional Shortage Area status and score. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26772 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:14:49 -0600 https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2025/10/03/how-states-can-boost-behavioral-health-services-in-rural-communities Explores ways state officials can utilize federal funds to increase mental health and substance use treatment for rural communities. Highlights strategies for increasing access to behavioral health services in rural communities that can be funded through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. -- Pew Research Center https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26514 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:58:54 -0500 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13722-025-00606-6 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. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26476 Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:03:55 -0500 https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/audit/11229/A-06-23-07000.pdf Examines whether Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Expansion award recipients met the five required core activities and three proposed benchmarks between September 2019 and August 2022. Summarizes results of a performance audit of RCORP MAT Expansion award recipients, including site visits to each awardee. Appendix C covers the challenges and barriers award recipients faced while establishing or expanding their MAT programs. -- Office of Inspector General (HHS) https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26436 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:03:15 -0500 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/sho25004.pdf Provides guidance for states to maintain a continuum of behavioral health crisis care for patients covered by Medicaid and CHIP. Details core elements of the continuum of crisis care and how Medicaid and CHIP function within that framework. Highlights considerations for rural communities. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26389 Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:25:10 -0500 https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e64913 Provides a study protocol focused on creating a community-engaged approach to implementing public health vending machines (PHVMs) that distribute naloxone in rural North Carolina. Discusses the need to engage people who have experienced substance use when developing public health interventions to prevent drug overdose. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26368 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:16:17 -0500 https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt56616/2024-nsduh-spotlight-moud.pdf Offers National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data on adults receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) between 2022 and 2024 by age, sex, region, and metropolitan county status. -- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26318 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:09:45 -0500