Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
Care Coordination Between Rural Primary Care and Telemedicine to Expand Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Results from a Single-Arm, Multisite Feasibility Study
Examines the feasibility of expanding access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural areas through the use of telemedicine. Analyzes 6 rural primary care sites and their care coordination model. Includes data on patients referred to telemedicine and total number of patient-days on MOUD.
Author(s): Yih-Ing Hser, Larissa J. Mooney, Laura-Mae Baldwin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(4), 780-788
Date: 09/2023
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Examines the feasibility of expanding access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural areas through the use of telemedicine. Analyzes 6 rural primary care sites and their care coordination model. Includes data on patients referred to telemedicine and total number of patient-days on MOUD.
Author(s): Yih-Ing Hser, Larissa J. Mooney, Laura-Mae Baldwin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(4), 780-788
Date: 09/2023
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Factors Associated with Hospitalizations for Co-occurring HIV and Opioid-Related Diagnoses: Evidence from the National Inpatient Sample, 2009–2017
Analyzes the 2009-2017 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify trends in co-occurring HIV and opioid-related hospitalizations and their risk factors. Discusses the impact of rurality, sex, race and ethnicity, region, and more on odds of hospitalization.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Marvellous A. Akinlotan, Timothy Callaghan, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 34(2023), 102225
Date: 08/2023
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Analyzes the 2009-2017 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify trends in co-occurring HIV and opioid-related hospitalizations and their risk factors. Discusses the impact of rurality, sex, race and ethnicity, region, and more on odds of hospitalization.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Marvellous A. Akinlotan, Timothy Callaghan, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 34(2023), 102225
Date: 08/2023
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Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Among Adults With Past-Year Opioid Use Disorder in the US, 2021
Evaluated 47,291 adults using the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to determine whether rates of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) use changed following implementation of COVID-19 pandemic policies intended to increase availability. Discusses various demographics, telehealth, and metro versus nonmetro residence.
Author(s): Christopher M. Jones, Beth Han, Grant T. Baldwin, Emily B. Einstein, Wilson M. Compton
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(8)
Date: 08/2023
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Evaluated 47,291 adults using the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to determine whether rates of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) use changed following implementation of COVID-19 pandemic policies intended to increase availability. Discusses various demographics, telehealth, and metro versus nonmetro residence.
Author(s): Christopher M. Jones, Beth Han, Grant T. Baldwin, Emily B. Einstein, Wilson M. Compton
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(8)
Date: 08/2023
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KFF Tracking Poll July 2023: Substance Use Crisis And Accessing Treatment
Provides results of a poll focused on the impact of substance use on American families, such as experiences with addiction, social and mental health impacts of substance use, and potential outcomes of substance use such as homelessness or need for medical care. Includes information specific to opioid use with results categorized by race/ethnicity and community type, including urban, suburban, and rural.
Author(s): Grace Sparks, Alex Montero, Ashley Kirzinger, Isabelle Valdes, Liz Hamel
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Provides results of a poll focused on the impact of substance use on American families, such as experiences with addiction, social and mental health impacts of substance use, and potential outcomes of substance use such as homelessness or need for medical care. Includes information specific to opioid use with results categorized by race/ethnicity and community type, including urban, suburban, and rural.
Author(s): Grace Sparks, Alex Montero, Ashley Kirzinger, Isabelle Valdes, Liz Hamel
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Addressing the Opioid Crisis: A Look at the Evolving Landscape of Federal OUD Treatment Policies
Provides an overview of five federal policies that impacted the provision of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Covers regulations related to buprenorphine medication, methadone dispensing programs, overdose prevention and reversal methods, and leveraging Medicaid for pre- and post-release from prison OUD treatment services. Discusses how state laws may limit federal efforts.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Nirmita Panchal
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Provides an overview of five federal policies that impacted the provision of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Covers regulations related to buprenorphine medication, methadone dispensing programs, overdose prevention and reversal methods, and leveraging Medicaid for pre- and post-release from prison OUD treatment services. Discusses how state laws may limit federal efforts.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Nirmita Panchal
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Versus Urban Veterans Health Administration Facilities
Explores rural veterans' access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Highlights VHA efforts to expand access to MOUD within VHA facilities and aims to identify access levels for rural veterans via the VA's Community Care program. Breaks down data by type of MOUD and by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Sarah Shull, Stephan Lindner, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1871-1876
Date: 06/2023
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Explores rural veterans' access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Highlights VHA efforts to expand access to MOUD within VHA facilities and aims to identify access levels for rural veterans via the VA's Community Care program. Breaks down data by type of MOUD and by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Sarah Shull, Stephan Lindner, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1871-1876
Date: 06/2023
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Rural Youth Engagement Toolkit
Toolkit provides information and strategies for engaging rural youth to address and prevent youth substance misuse in rural communities. Highlights challenges and protective factors for rural youth, details strategies for engagement, and makes policy recommendations.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
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Toolkit provides information and strategies for engaging rural youth to address and prevent youth substance misuse in rural communities. Highlights challenges and protective factors for rural youth, details strategies for engagement, and makes policy recommendations.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
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The Impacts of Opioid Addiction on the Rural Workforce
A recorded webinar that examines how the rural workforce has been impacted by opioid addiction. Discusses issues of healthcare access, poverty, mental health, and farmworker health, along with data on workforce impacts. Includes resources to support opioid recovery and examples of recovery efforts in specific regions, such as Appalachia.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Presentation, Transcript
Author(s): Kellie Kubena, Carol Wetuski, Lauren Wood, et al.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, First Tennessee Development District, Office of Workforce Investment (OWI), U.S. Department of Agriculture
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A recorded webinar that examines how the rural workforce has been impacted by opioid addiction. Discusses issues of healthcare access, poverty, mental health, and farmworker health, along with data on workforce impacts. Includes resources to support opioid recovery and examples of recovery efforts in specific regions, such as Appalachia.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Presentation, Transcript
Author(s): Kellie Kubena, Carol Wetuski, Lauren Wood, et al.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, First Tennessee Development District, Office of Workforce Investment (OWI), U.S. Department of Agriculture
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An Exploratory Study of a Hands-on Naloxone Training for Rural Clinicians and Staff
Presents a study on the efficacy of a hands-on naloxone training for rural healthcare providers as a means of reducing opioid overdose fatalities in rural areas. Discusses the fentanyl-driven surge in opioid overdose deaths and describes the 1-hour training session, which involved a lecture and hands-on training with naloxone.
Author(s): Shameka L. Cody, Cheryl B. Hines, Christina J. Glenn, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 55(3), 599-604
Date: 05/2023
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Presents a study on the efficacy of a hands-on naloxone training for rural healthcare providers as a means of reducing opioid overdose fatalities in rural areas. Discusses the fentanyl-driven surge in opioid overdose deaths and describes the 1-hour training session, which involved a lecture and hands-on training with naloxone.
Author(s): Shameka L. Cody, Cheryl B. Hines, Christina J. Glenn, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 55(3), 599-604
Date: 05/2023
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Medication for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy — Maternal and Infant Network to Understand Outcomes Associated with Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy (MAT-LINK), 2014–2021
Describes a surveillance network of seven clinical sites focused on the use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during pregnancy. Initial report is limited to selected demographic characteristics of pregnant persons overall and by MOUD treatment status, including data for urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Kathryn Miele, Shin Y. Kim, Rachelle Jones, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 72(3), 1-14
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Describes a surveillance network of seven clinical sites focused on the use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during pregnancy. Initial report is limited to selected demographic characteristics of pregnant persons overall and by MOUD treatment status, including data for urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Kathryn Miele, Shin Y. Kim, Rachelle Jones, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 72(3), 1-14
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Last Updated: 9/3/2025