Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
Pain in the Nation 2024: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Brandon Reavis
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
view details
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Brandon Reavis
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
view details
Community-Level Factors and their Associations with Changing Opioid Overdose Fatality Rates in Kentucky, 2019–2021
Identifies associations between community-level factors and opioid overdose fatality rates in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties, and examines how these associations have changed from 2019 to 2021. Discusses societal changes that occurred due to COVID-19, including social isolation, and which may be linked to an increase in overdose deaths. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, adjacent-to-metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Shawn R. Nigam, Philip M. Westgate, Svetla Slavova, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Katherine L. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 90-115
Date: 07/2024
view details
Identifies associations between community-level factors and opioid overdose fatality rates in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties, and examines how these associations have changed from 2019 to 2021. Discusses societal changes that occurred due to COVID-19, including social isolation, and which may be linked to an increase in overdose deaths. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, adjacent-to-metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Shawn R. Nigam, Philip M. Westgate, Svetla Slavova, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Katherine L. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 90-115
Date: 07/2024
view details
Barriers to Healthcare and Social Service Utilization Among Rural Older Adults Who Use Drugs
Presents a study on the barriers to healthcare and social services access for older adults in rural communities who use drugs. Bases findings on survey results from rural adults over 50 who use drugs on perceived barriers to service utilization. Highlights how barriers such as a lack of transportation, health insurance, and permanent housing correlates with age.
Author(s): Beth Prusaczyk, Sandra Tilmon, Joshua Landman, et al.
Citation: Journal of Applied Gerontology, 43(12), 1977-1984
Date: 06/2024
view details
Presents a study on the barriers to healthcare and social services access for older adults in rural communities who use drugs. Bases findings on survey results from rural adults over 50 who use drugs on perceived barriers to service utilization. Highlights how barriers such as a lack of transportation, health insurance, and permanent housing correlates with age.
Author(s): Beth Prusaczyk, Sandra Tilmon, Joshua Landman, et al.
Citation: Journal of Applied Gerontology, 43(12), 1977-1984
Date: 06/2024
view details
Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Population Estimates — United States, 2022
Describes the U.S. adult populations who need opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, receive any OUD treatment, and receive medication for OUD. Includes data for metropolitan compared to micropolitan and noncore locations.
Author(s): Deborah Dowell, Samantha Brown, Shiromani Gyawali, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(25), 567-574
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Describes the U.S. adult populations who need opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, receive any OUD treatment, and receive medication for OUD. Includes data for metropolitan compared to micropolitan and noncore locations.
Author(s): Deborah Dowell, Samantha Brown, Shiromani Gyawali, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(25), 567-574
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Is Peer Support a Tipping Point for the Opioid Use Disorder Crisis in Appalachia? Research Holds the Answer
Investigates how the relationship among cultural, socioeconomic, medical, and geographic factors in Central Appalachia create additional burdens for opioid use recovery. Analyzes the effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder and peer recovery support services, providing recommendations to address opioid use disorder in Appalachia.
Author(s): Kimberly Horn, Stephanie M. Mathis, Lara Nagle, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction, 21, 122
Date: 06/2024
view details
Investigates how the relationship among cultural, socioeconomic, medical, and geographic factors in Central Appalachia create additional burdens for opioid use recovery. Analyzes the effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder and peer recovery support services, providing recommendations to address opioid use disorder in Appalachia.
Author(s): Kimberly Horn, Stephanie M. Mathis, Lara Nagle, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction, 21, 122
Date: 06/2024
view details
Evaluation of the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model: Third Annual Report (Implementation Year 2)
Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's second implementation year, July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum women with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Insight Policy Research
view details
Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's second implementation year, July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum women with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Insight Policy Research
view details
Evaluation of Using Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorders in a Correctional Setting
Report evaluates a telehealth intervention in a rural county jail to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and therapy to inmates with opioid use disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights program goals and details data from participant surveys on the intervention's perceived quality and efficacy.
Author(s): Marina Duane, Jennifer Yahner, Malore Dusenbery, Erica Henderson
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: National Criminal Justice Reference Service, Office of Justice Programs
view details
Report evaluates a telehealth intervention in a rural county jail to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and therapy to inmates with opioid use disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights program goals and details data from participant surveys on the intervention's perceived quality and efficacy.
Author(s): Marina Duane, Jennifer Yahner, Malore Dusenbery, Erica Henderson
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: National Criminal Justice Reference Service, Office of Justice Programs
view details
Tribally-Led Mobile Outreach: Improving Access to Harm Reduction Services in One Rural Reservation Community
Presents a study on the efficacy of a tribally-run mobile outreach service to deliver opioid harm reduction information and services. Breaks down type of services offered, the organizational reach, and population served.
Author(s): Allyson Kelley, Kellie Webb, Katherine Hirchak, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1383729
Date: 05/2024
view details
Presents a study on the efficacy of a tribally-run mobile outreach service to deliver opioid harm reduction information and services. Breaks down type of services offered, the organizational reach, and population served.
Author(s): Allyson Kelley, Kellie Webb, Katherine Hirchak, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1383729
Date: 05/2024
view details
Housing for Rural Residents Recovering from Substance Use Disorders
Presents a study featuring a number of programs providing housing for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery in rural communities. Discusses three different case studies on programs in MN, OR, and WV. Highlights the community need, organizational structure, and key features of each program.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Ingrid Jacobson, Mariana Tuttle, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Presents a study featuring a number of programs providing housing for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery in rural communities. Discusses three different case studies on programs in MN, OR, and WV. Highlights the community need, organizational structure, and key features of each program.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Ingrid Jacobson, Mariana Tuttle, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Addressing the Spectrum of Opioid Misuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery in Rural Washington State Communities: Provider Identified Barriers and Needs
Highlights a study on provider-identified barriers to opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, and prevention in rural Washington State. Draws conclusions from survey data taken from July-September 2020 and features some discussion of COVID-19 on top of other pre-existing barriers. Breaks down data by role in healthcare workforce, work setting, and substance focus, among other factors.
Author(s): Liat S. Kriegel, Katherine Hampilos, Elizabeth Weybright, et al.
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal, 60(3), 600-607
Date: 04/2024
view details
Highlights a study on provider-identified barriers to opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, and prevention in rural Washington State. Draws conclusions from survey data taken from July-September 2020 and features some discussion of COVID-19 on top of other pre-existing barriers. Breaks down data by role in healthcare workforce, work setting, and substance focus, among other factors.
Author(s): Liat S. Kriegel, Katherine Hampilos, Elizabeth Weybright, et al.
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal, 60(3), 600-607
Date: 04/2024
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 7/25/2025