Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
Opioids in Appalachia: The Role of Counties in Reversing a Regional Epidemic
Details the state of the opioid epidemic in Appalachia and presents recommendations to help county leaders respond to the opioid crisis. Features individual county case studies highlighting the challenges and strategies in addressing the opioid crisis.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Details the state of the opioid epidemic in Appalachia and presents recommendations to help county leaders respond to the opioid crisis. Features individual county case studies highlighting the challenges and strategies in addressing the opioid crisis.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Pain Management for People with Serious Illness in the Context of the Opioid Use Disorder Epidemic: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a workshop with multiple stakeholders discussing pain management in the context of the opioid misuse epidemic. Reviews the opioid epidemic, how responses to it have affected people with serious illness and pain, the pain management needs of people with substance use disorder, policy responses, and next steps. Includes a few examples from rural areas and addresses some challenges specific to rural.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Reports on a workshop with multiple stakeholders discussing pain management in the context of the opioid misuse epidemic. Reviews the opioid epidemic, how responses to it have affected people with serious illness and pain, the pain management needs of people with substance use disorder, policy responses, and next steps. Includes a few examples from rural areas and addresses some challenges specific to rural.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Collaborative Models for Medication-Assisted Treatment: Key Elements of Vermont's Hub-and Spoke System
Describes the collaborative effort of three health-related organizations who partnered to develop and implement a medication assisted therapy (MAT) treatment practice using the hub and spoke model. This system was supported through a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Home State Plan amendment for Vermont, a mostly rural state, to modify their current MAT services to increase access to addiction treatment, integrate health and addictions care, improve health outcomes, and promote recovery.
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP)
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Describes the collaborative effort of three health-related organizations who partnered to develop and implement a medication assisted therapy (MAT) treatment practice using the hub and spoke model. This system was supported through a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Home State Plan amendment for Vermont, a mostly rural state, to modify their current MAT services to increase access to addiction treatment, integrate health and addictions care, improve health outcomes, and promote recovery.
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP)
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The Opioid Prescribing Rate and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: State and County Level Analysis
Study highlights the relationship between grandparents raising children and the opioid crisis. Compares American Community Survey data from 2012-2016 with CDC 2016 Opioid Prescribing data. The State and County Level Analysis Poster presents a summary of the study, as well as state and county-level data and maps.
Additional links: State and County Level Analysis Poster
Author(s): Lydia Anderson
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Study highlights the relationship between grandparents raising children and the opioid crisis. Compares American Community Survey data from 2012-2016 with CDC 2016 Opioid Prescribing data. The State and County Level Analysis Poster presents a summary of the study, as well as state and county-level data and maps.
Additional links: State and County Level Analysis Poster
Author(s): Lydia Anderson
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Identifying Areas with Disproportionate Local Health Department Services Relative to Opioid Overdose, HIV and Hepatitis C Diagnosis Rates: A Study of Rural Illinois
Highlights a study on access to opioid use disorder treatment services provided by local health departments in rural Illinois. Looks at services available, as well as county rates of opioid overdoses, HIV, and hepatitis C diagnosis rates.
Author(s): Colleen McLuckie, Mai T. Pho, Kaitlin Ellis, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(6), 989
Date: 03/2019
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Highlights a study on access to opioid use disorder treatment services provided by local health departments in rural Illinois. Looks at services available, as well as county rates of opioid overdoses, HIV, and hepatitis C diagnosis rates.
Author(s): Colleen McLuckie, Mai T. Pho, Kaitlin Ellis, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(6), 989
Date: 03/2019
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Recommendations to the Indian Health Service on American Indian/Alaska Native Pregnant Women and Women of Childbearing Age with Opioid Use Disorder
Report details recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to the Indian Health Service on best practices for treating pregnant American Indian and Alaska Native women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Discusses screening for OUD, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and care integration, among other factors.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Report details recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to the Indian Health Service on best practices for treating pregnant American Indian and Alaska Native women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Discusses screening for OUD, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and care integration, among other factors.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Identifying Safety-Net Resources at Health Centers to Prevent Infectious Disease Transmission Resulting from the Opioid Epidemic
Examines challenges faced and strategies used by Community Health Centers (CHCs) in rural areas to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases in relation to opioid use. Focuses on treatment of people with opioid use disorder; prevention of HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) transmission; integration of substance use services with mental health and primary care; information sharing among health centers and Ryan White Part C providers; and challenges related to staffing, administration, finances, and social stigma. Identifies 7 facilitators of successful programs.
Author(s): Joshua Breslau, Ryan K. McBain, Molly Simmons
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Examines challenges faced and strategies used by Community Health Centers (CHCs) in rural areas to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases in relation to opioid use. Focuses on treatment of people with opioid use disorder; prevention of HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) transmission; integration of substance use services with mental health and primary care; information sharing among health centers and Ryan White Part C providers; and challenges related to staffing, administration, finances, and social stigma. Identifies 7 facilitators of successful programs.
Author(s): Joshua Breslau, Ryan K. McBain, Molly Simmons
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Addressing the Rural Opioid Addiction and Overdose Crisis Through Cross-Sector Collaboration: Little Falls, Minnesota
Explores a cross-sector community-based care coordination effort to reduce the use of opioids in Little Falls, MN. Discusses the collaboration between a rural hospital and clinic with the Morrison County Accountable Communities for Health (ACH) program and highlights changes to opioid prescribing practices and community awareness of treatment options.
Author(s): Caroline Au-Yeung, Lynn A. Blewett, Kathy Lange
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(2), 260-262
Date: 02/2019
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Explores a cross-sector community-based care coordination effort to reduce the use of opioids in Little Falls, MN. Discusses the collaboration between a rural hospital and clinic with the Morrison County Accountable Communities for Health (ACH) program and highlights changes to opioid prescribing practices and community awareness of treatment options.
Author(s): Caroline Au-Yeung, Lynn A. Blewett, Kathy Lange
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(2), 260-262
Date: 02/2019
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Using Network and Spatial Data to Better Target Overdose Prevention Strategies in Rural Appalachia
Highlights a study aiming to target individuals most likely to need overdose interventions in rural Appalachia. Examines survey data for spatial and networking patterns in rural eastern Kentucky to identify individuals at risk of a drug overdose.
Author(s): Abby E. Rudolph, April M. Young, Jennifer R. Havens
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 96(1), 27-37
Date: 02/2019
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Highlights a study aiming to target individuals most likely to need overdose interventions in rural Appalachia. Examines survey data for spatial and networking patterns in rural eastern Kentucky to identify individuals at risk of a drug overdose.
Author(s): Abby E. Rudolph, April M. Young, Jennifer R. Havens
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 96(1), 27-37
Date: 02/2019
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Opioid Use Disorder: Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities
Discusses challenges rural communities face in providing access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Identifies federal and state strategies to address treatment capacity, including expanding the workforce authorized to prescribe buprenorphine and using technology to provide treatment. Highlights how Scott County, Indiana responded to an HIV outbreak related to OUD by addressing the barriers to care faced by people with OUD and HIV.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Discusses challenges rural communities face in providing access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Identifies federal and state strategies to address treatment capacity, including expanding the workforce authorized to prescribe buprenorphine and using technology to provide treatment. Highlights how Scott County, Indiana responded to an HIV outbreak related to OUD by addressing the barriers to care faced by people with OUD and HIV.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Last Updated: 5/27/2025