Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
Use of Primary Care and Emergency Departments for Substance Use Treatment: The Rural and Urban Divide
Explores the use of primary care and emergency departments for substance use treatment in rural and urban areas. Draws from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015-2019 and breaks down data by age and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Nathaniel Albright, Christina Dyar, Ethan Morgan
Citation: Substance Use & Misuse, 59(2), 300-305
Date: 12/2023
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Explores the use of primary care and emergency departments for substance use treatment in rural and urban areas. Draws from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015-2019 and breaks down data by age and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Nathaniel Albright, Christina Dyar, Ethan Morgan
Citation: Substance Use & Misuse, 59(2), 300-305
Date: 12/2023
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Retention in Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Among Rural Populations: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Highlights a study on the efficacy of telehealth-based treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) for rural populations. Draws patient data from 2020-2022 across 14 states and breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as insurance status, education, and rurality, among other measures. Explores retention in care and adherence over a 6 month treatment period.
Author(s): Marlene C. Lira, Cynthia Jimes, M. Justin Coffey
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 29(12), 1890-1896
Date: 12/2023
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Highlights a study on the efficacy of telehealth-based treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) for rural populations. Draws patient data from 2020-2022 across 14 states and breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as insurance status, education, and rurality, among other measures. Explores retention in care and adherence over a 6 month treatment period.
Author(s): Marlene C. Lira, Cynthia Jimes, M. Justin Coffey
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 29(12), 1890-1896
Date: 12/2023
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Methadone Prescribing by Addiction Specialists Likely to Leave Communities Without Available Methadone Treatment
Examines two policy proposals for expanding access to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder. Highlights the impact on availability in rural areas. Discusses the role of mental health professional shortage areas and Federally Qualified Health Centers in each proposal.
Author(s): Paul J. Joudrey, Dylan Halpern, Qinyun Lin, et al
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(5)
Date: 11/2023
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Examines two policy proposals for expanding access to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder. Highlights the impact on availability in rural areas. Discusses the role of mental health professional shortage areas and Federally Qualified Health Centers in each proposal.
Author(s): Paul J. Joudrey, Dylan Halpern, Qinyun Lin, et al
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(5)
Date: 11/2023
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RCORP: Helping Meet Rural Needs
Video series featuring the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative that funds a range of grant programs to help rural communities treat and prevent opioid use disorder. RCORP grantees share how they have used this funding to address the needs of their communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Video series featuring the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative that funds a range of grant programs to help rural communities treat and prevent opioid use disorder. RCORP grantees share how they have used this funding to address the needs of their communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Filling the Gaps: Program Builds Referral and Recovery Services in Western Massachusetts
Features a rural Massachusetts coalition's work to address substance misuse and build sustainable recovery services, with support from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Discusses youth outreach and engagement, stigma reduction activities, facilitating access to services, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a rural Massachusetts coalition's work to address substance misuse and build sustainable recovery services, with support from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Discusses youth outreach and engagement, stigma reduction activities, facilitating access to services, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Substance Use Among Rural Adolescents With Incarcerated Parents: Evidence From a State-Wide Sample
Presents a study on the potential correlation between parental incarceration and rural adolescent substance use. Draws data from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey and breaks down findings by age, household substance use, and poverty, among other factors.
Author(s): Luke Muentner, Katie K. McLaughlin, Rebecca Shlafer
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 338-347
Date: 11/2023
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Presents a study on the potential correlation between parental incarceration and rural adolescent substance use. Draws data from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey and breaks down findings by age, household substance use, and poverty, among other factors.
Author(s): Luke Muentner, Katie K. McLaughlin, Rebecca Shlafer
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 338-347
Date: 11/2023
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The Opioid Crisis in the Pandemic Era
Analyzes trends in opioid use during the 2019-2021 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides information on the history of the opioid crisis and mortality rates by age, race/ethnicity, type of opioid, state, and urbanicity, including non-metro, small/medium metro, and large metro.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Analyzes trends in opioid use during the 2019-2021 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides information on the history of the opioid crisis and mortality rates by age, race/ethnicity, type of opioid, state, and urbanicity, including non-metro, small/medium metro, and large metro.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Extra Episode - Rural Communities Opioid Response Program with Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donell
Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Will Availability of Over-the-Counter Narcan Increase Access?
Highlights state policies and recent research related to over-the-counter naloxone access. Includes information on the impact of rurality on access. Also discusses insurance coverage and impact of cost.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Highlights state policies and recent research related to over-the-counter naloxone access. Includes information on the impact of rurality on access. Also discusses insurance coverage and impact of cost.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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This Team from HHS Has Spent Five Years Taking on the Rural Crisis of Opioid Use
Podcast episode interviewing Heath Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) officials running the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Describes starting the program, types of projects funded, program impacts, and how to apply.
Author(s): Tom Temin
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Federal News Network
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Podcast episode interviewing Heath Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) officials running the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Describes starting the program, types of projects funded, program impacts, and how to apply.
Author(s): Tom Temin
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Federal News Network
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 4/28/2025