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Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources

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

Pharmacy-Based Preventive Services for Opioid Use Disorder: A Survey of U.S. Pharmacists
Examines pharmacist perceptions related to addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in their patients. Utilizes online survey data from 1,146 pharmacists to analyze pharmacist concerns about drug use; drug screenings, interventions, and referrals; and commitment and readiness to address OUD and SUD in their patients. Includes breakdowns of pharmacist demographics as well as rurality of pharmacy locations.
Author(s): Li-Tzy Wu, Jacquie King, Kathryn Hefner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 88
Date: 12/2024
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Differences in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Testing and Treatment by Opioid, Stimulant, and Polysubstance Use among People Who Use Drugs in Rural U.S. Communities
Examines hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in rural people who use drugs (PWUD) when drug combinations are used. Analyzes 2,705 PWUD across 10 rural communities in the U.S. from 2018-2020 for drug use combinations, testing, treatment, and more.
Author(s): Angela T. Estadt, David Kline, William C. Miller, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 214
Date: 11/2024
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A Case Report on a Women's Residential Substance Use Program in a Rural and Urban Setting
Explores the characteristics and outcomes of residential substance use recovery programs for parenting and pregnant women in rural and urban counties in Kentucky. Breaks down participant data by age, number of children, and location in a rural or urban area, among other measures.
Author(s): Deborah Winders Davis, Yana Feygin, Madeline Shipley, et al.
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 28, pages 1870–1875
Date: 10/2024
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Changing Dynamics in the Opioid Crisis Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines trends in the opioid crisis during the 2019-2022 COVID-19 pandemic period. Includes data on drug types and overdose deaths by age, state, and urbanization that includes nonmetro locations.
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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2023 Report to Congress on the State Opioid Response Grants (SOR)
Report details the outcomes of state opioid response (SOR) grants to Congress. Highlights demographic breakdown of people served by SOR programs and discusses key accomplishments by state/territory. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico, September 4-6, 2024
Summarizes the 95th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico. Presents an overview of national, state, and community perspectives on the rural opioid and substance use crisis.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Medication-Based Treatment among Rural, Primary Care Patients Diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder
Explores prescribing rates of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and alcohol use disorder (MAUD) in primary care settings in rural and urban areas. Discusses the use of medications for treating OUD and AUD and looks for differences in utilization by rural and urban providers. Breaks down data by patient age, sex, and medication type, among other measures.
Author(s): Emily Kan, Laura-Mae Baldwin, Larissa J. Mooney, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 164, 20933
Date: 09/2024
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Lessons for Future Pandemics: Temporal Evolution and Rural-Urban Variations in the Impacts of the COVID-19 on Opioid Use Treatment
Presents a study highlighting the lessons learned from opioid use treatment programs operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explores the impact of the pandemic on treatment services. Discusses the use of telehealth for both counseling and medication prescribing, as well as the challenges faced by patients trying to obtain treatment during the pandemic.
Author(s): Zhongyang He, Jonathan M. Heess, Travis Young, Zhen Lei
Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(9), e0310386
Date: 09/2024
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Somebody to Lean On: Understanding Self-Stigma and Willingness to Disclose in the Context of Addiction
Presents a study on self-stigma, or the unwillingness to disclose opioid use, and aims to identify factors that predict lower levels of self-stigma. Breaks down data by sex, age, and rural/urban location, among other measures. Discusses strategies for overcoming self-stigma.
Author(s): Qing Ma, Christopher R. Whipple, Övgü Kaynak, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), 1044
Date: 08/2024
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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
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