Dissemination Audiences for Substance Use Disorder Programs

Rural substance use disorder (SUD) programs may choose to disseminate evaluation results, program successes, and other program information to diverse audiences. Common dissemination audiences for rural SUD programs include:

Funders of rural SUD programs, such as federal agencies
Policymakers at local, state, or federal levels of government
Local healthcare facilities and providers
Local businesses and employers
State or local health departments
Human and social services departments
State Offices of Rural Health
Local courts and police departments
State rural health organizations
Patients and families
Community members and the public
Local counsel of commissioners
Local task forces
State advisory councils on injury and violence prevention

Rural SUD programs may tailor messages about the program and results to different audiences and to achieve different objectives and goals. For example, programs may:

Share information about program activities with the goal of enrolling clients
Distribute information on program outcomes with the goal of promoting long-term sustainability with funders and reducing stigma surrounding SUD among community members
Share lessons learned with the goal of helping other communities or organizations identify best practices when designing similar programs

For additional audiences for dissemination, refer to the Methods of Dissemination for Community Health Programs section in the Rural Community Health Toolkit.

Resources to Learn More

Focus on Prevention: Strategies and Programs to Prevent Substance Use
Document
Assists communities in a variety of settings with planning and implementing substance use prevention strategies. Covers the importance of forming partnerships, conducting needs assessments, defining your audience, and engaging in social marketing.
Organization(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Date: 8/2020