Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
County Data Highlight Links between Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome and Placement of Infants in Foster Care
Explores the relationship between neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and the rate of children entering the foster care system. Summarizes county-level data from eight states and highlights community level factors such as maternal education, healthcare, and rurality, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Explores the relationship between neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and the rate of children entering the foster care system. Summarizes county-level data from eight states and highlights community level factors such as maternal education, healthcare, and rurality, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Overdose Prevention Strategy
Examines trends in overdose deaths between 1999 and 2019. Describes the development and four priority areas of the new Overdose Prevention Strategy, as well as objectives for each priority area. Highlights examples of programs that address substance use disorder prevention and treatment in rural areas.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines trends in overdose deaths between 1999 and 2019. Describes the development and four priority areas of the new Overdose Prevention Strategy, as well as objectives for each priority area. Highlights examples of programs that address substance use disorder prevention and treatment in rural areas.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Substance Use, Substance Use Disorders, and Substance Use Treatment Utilization among People Aged 12 or Older (2015-2019)
Report showing rates of substance use, substance use disorders, and substance use treatment utilization by race and ethnicity, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Breaks down data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report showing rates of substance use, substance use disorders, and substance use treatment utilization by race and ethnicity, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Breaks down data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Behavioral Health Equity Report 2021
Provides a breakdown and discussion of data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019. Details youth and adult mental health and substance use indicators by race and ethnicity, income level, and metro or nonmetro county, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Provides a breakdown and discussion of data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019. Details youth and adult mental health and substance use indicators by race and ethnicity, income level, and metro or nonmetro county, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Tribal Opioid Response: Strategic Plan 2020-2022
Reports on the findings of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council Tribal Opioid Response project – a two-year project focused on developing a program to reduce opioid overdose, opioid use disorder, and stimulant use disorder among American tribal communities residing in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and the Piikani Nation. A review of available data and survey results, and a SWOT analysis were conducted to assist in project development. Common themes included: increase prevention through cultural activities and education; reduce barriers to medication assisted treatment; promote harm reduction strategies; offer safe syringe services; and establish partnerships for improved access to opioid data.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Reports on the findings of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council Tribal Opioid Response project – a two-year project focused on developing a program to reduce opioid overdose, opioid use disorder, and stimulant use disorder among American tribal communities residing in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and the Piikani Nation. A review of available data and survey results, and a SWOT analysis were conducted to assist in project development. Common themes included: increase prevention through cultural activities and education; reduce barriers to medication assisted treatment; promote harm reduction strategies; offer safe syringe services; and establish partnerships for improved access to opioid data.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Whole-Person Care for People Experiencing Homelessness and Opioid Use Disorder: A Toolkit
Provides information on whole-person care for housing stability and opioid use disorder (OUD), offering an overview of factors impacting homelessness and OUD, recovery models, and best practices to reduce stigma and develop trauma-informed care.
Additional links: Webinar: Whole-Person Care for People Experiencing Homelessness and Opioid Use Disorder
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Homeless and Housing Resource Center, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Provides information on whole-person care for housing stability and opioid use disorder (OUD), offering an overview of factors impacting homelessness and OUD, recovery models, and best practices to reduce stigma and develop trauma-informed care.
Additional links: Webinar: Whole-Person Care for People Experiencing Homelessness and Opioid Use Disorder
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Homeless and Housing Resource Center, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Innovations in Native American Communities
Report highlights the efforts of tribal programs to address opioid use disorder in their communities. Presents success stories of programs providing culturally competent treatment, prevention, and recovery for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in several states.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
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Report highlights the efforts of tribal programs to address opioid use disorder in their communities. Presents success stories of programs providing culturally competent treatment, prevention, and recovery for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in several states.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
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Prescription Opioid Use Among Adults With Chronic Pain: United States, 2019
Study examining prescription opioid use to treat chronic pain in adults, breaking down data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey by pain measures and demographics, sex, veteran status, rurality, and more. Discusses trends in the data to identify population characteristics among users of prescription opioids, and addresses risk of prescription opioid misuse.
Author(s): James M. Dahlhamer, Eric M. Connor, Jonaki Bose, Jacqueline W. Lucas, Carla E. Zelaya
Citation: National Health Statistics Reports, 162, 1-8
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Study examining prescription opioid use to treat chronic pain in adults, breaking down data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey by pain measures and demographics, sex, veteran status, rurality, and more. Discusses trends in the data to identify population characteristics among users of prescription opioids, and addresses risk of prescription opioid misuse.
Author(s): James M. Dahlhamer, Eric M. Connor, Jonaki Bose, Jacqueline W. Lucas, Carla E. Zelaya
Citation: National Health Statistics Reports, 162, 1-8
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Innovations in Overdose Response: Strategies Implemented by Emergency Medical Services Providers
Reports on the findings of an environmental scan conducted in collaboration with the National Association of EMS Officials looking for new and promising overdose response strategies for state and local EMS providers to increase access to treatment and recovery services. Discusses sharing data for public health surveillance and response, building system-wide partnerships, administering buprenorphine, developing post-overdose response teams, utilizing mobile integrated health clinics, and implementation barriers to be considered.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Reports on the findings of an environmental scan conducted in collaboration with the National Association of EMS Officials looking for new and promising overdose response strategies for state and local EMS providers to increase access to treatment and recovery services. Discusses sharing data for public health surveillance and response, building system-wide partnerships, administering buprenorphine, developing post-overdose response teams, utilizing mobile integrated health clinics, and implementation barriers to be considered.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Opioid Treatment Programs: A Key Treatment System Component
Issue brief examining state and federal-level policies related to opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Offers policy recommendations to increase access to opioid treatment in rural communities and other hard-to-reach settings.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Issue brief examining state and federal-level policies related to opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Offers policy recommendations to increase access to opioid treatment in rural communities and other hard-to-reach settings.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 8/27/2025

