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Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.

Needs Assessment Methodologies in Determining Treatment Capacity for Substance Use Disorders: Final Report
Presents the results from an environmental scan reviewing the literature on needs assessment methods and substance use disorder (SUD) needs assessment reports representing various interests, including rural and urban areas, researchers, government agencies, and private consultants. Highlights best practices for conducting SUD needs assessments, identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement in the available data, and discusses why SUD needs assessments are necessary.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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State Strategies to Address Opioid Use Disorder Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Infants Prenatally Exposed to Substances, Including Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Identifies state strategies to improve outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder and infants prenatally exposed to substances, including opioids. Discusses strategies focused on access to and coordination of quality services, including approaches such as telemedicine that are useful in rural areas. Also discusses strategies related to provider awareness and training and other topics.
Author(s): Charlan D. Kroelinger, Marion E. Rice, Shanna Cox, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(36), 777-783
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Acceptability of Safe Drug Consumption Spaces among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural West Virginia
Presents a study on the acceptability of safe consumption spaces among people who inject drugs in rural West Virginia. Breaks down data by demographic data, overdoses, and drugs used, among other characteristics.
Author(s): Allison O'Rourke, Rebecca Hamilton White, Ju Nyeong Park, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 16, 51
Date: 08/2019
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Doctor Hopping and Doctor Shopping for Prescription Opioids Associated with Increased Odds of High‐Risk Use
Presents a study on doctor hopping by people with opioid use disorder. Defines doctor hopping, a variant of doctor shopping, and uses data from the Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to illustrate the behavior and its outcomes. Compares doctor hopping and doctor shopping in both rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Sean G. Young, Corey J. Hayes, Jonathan Aram, Mark A. Tait
Citation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 28(8), 1117–1124
Date: 08/2019
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Report of Recommendations: Appalachian Regional Commission's Substance Abuse Advisory Council
Report outlines the recommendations of the ARC's Substance Abuse Advisory Council on designing and implementing a substance abuse recovery system in rural Appalachia. Details the need for workforce training and employment via support services post-treatment.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Unclassified Drug Overdose Deaths in the Opioid Crisis: Emerging Patterns of Inequity
Presents a study that explores correlations between certain geographic, economic, or demographic characteristics and missing data pertaining to drug overdose deaths. Looks at unclassified drug overdose deaths and breaks down data by sex, age, and economic status, among other factors. Depicts overdose mortality data in nationwide, county-level maps.
Author(s): Andrew J Boslett, Alina Denham, Elaine L Hill, Meredith C B Adams
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 767–777
Date: 08/2019
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Rural Access to MAT in Pennsylvania (RAMP): A Hybrid Implementation Study Protocol for Medication Assisted Treatment Adoption among Rural Primary Care Providers
Presents a study on the implementation of an intervention designed to expand access to medication-assisted treatment for people with opioid use disorder in rural Pennsylvania. Highlights the collaborators and roles within the intervention, breaking down the delivery and support infrastructure.
Author(s): Gerald Cochran, Evan S. Cole, Jack Warwick, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 14, 25
Date: 08/2019
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Evidence Brief: Managing Acute Pain in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder on Medication-assisted Treatment
Brief details the Veterans Health Administration's best practice on acute pain treatment for patients undergoing medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Includes supplemental materials that highlight search strategies and evidence tables among other materials.
Additional links: Supplementary Materials
Author(s): Stephanie Veazie, Katherine Mackey, Donald Bourne, Kim Peterson
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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Life-Saving Naloxone from Pharmacies
Describes the role naloxone plays in reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Discusses the need for greater access to naloxone, particularly in rural areas, and highlights trends in opioid and naloxone prescribing. Includes links to related CDC resources.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Vital Signs: Pharmacy-Based Naloxone Dispensing — United States, 2012–2018
Reports on trends and characteristics of naloxone dispensing from retail pharmacies. Includes data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural counties on high-dose opioid and naloxone prescriptions. Also includes county-level maps of naloxone prescriptions per 100,000 people and naloxone prescriptions per 100 high-dose opioid prescriptions.
Author(s): Gery P. Guy Jr., Tamara M. Haegerich, Mary E. Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(31), 679-686
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Last Updated: 4/9/2025