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Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources

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

Rural Communities Face More than an Opioid Crisis: Reimagining Funding Assistance to Address Polysubstance Use, Associated Health Problems, and Limited Rural Service Capacity
Examines progress reports from the first 4 quarters of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) to identify both substances of concern (including but not limited to opioids) and related health issues in funded communities. Data highlight which substances and related health issues are of greatest concern and that communities have the least capacity to address. Includes guidance on future funding strategies for opioid and other substance use projects.
Author(s): Carolyn Carpenedo Mun, Heather Schuler, Robin Baker, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(4), 795-803
Date: 2023
Type: Document
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Understanding Opioid Use Within a Southwestern American Indian Reservation Community: A Qualitative Study
Examines motivations, consequences, and general impact of opioid use among youth and young adult American Indians based on interviews with 18 individuals living in a Southwestern reservation community. Discusses prevention efforts such as family-based services and community program interventions.
Author(s): Emma Waugh, Jerreed Ivanich, Victoria O'Keefe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 179-185
Date: 2023
Type: Document
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Exploring the Question of Financial Incentives for Training Amongst Non-adopters of MOUD in Rural Primary Care
Explores the role of stigma in West Virginia primary care providers' decision to undergo training to receive a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) waiver and the effect financial incentives have on that decision. Discusses providers' perceptions of MOUD treatment and perceived barriers to attaining a waiver, among other issues.
Author(s): Treah Haggerty, Nicholas A. Turiano, Tyra Turner, Patricia Dekeseredy, Cara L. Sedney
Citation: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 17, 72
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Impact of Mandatory COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Order on Controlled Substance Use Among Rural Versus Urban Communities in the United States
Features a study on the effect the shelter-in-place orders during the COVID-19 pandemic had on uses of controlled substances, such as methamphetamine, opioids, and cocaine, among others. Draws data from calls made to poison control centers from October of 2019 to July of 2020 and compares rates of calls by rural versus urban locations.
Author(s): Daniel Maeng, Yue Li, Michele Lawrence, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 21-29
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Changes in Transmucosal Buprenorphine Utilization for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kentucky
Explores changes in prescription rates of transmuscosal buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky. Compares prescribing rates in rural versus urban areas and examines rates on a week by week basis.
Author(s): Feitong Lei, Michelle R. Lofwall, Patricia R. Freeman, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 186-196
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Opioid Abuse among Rural Adults
Examines the impact of the opioid abuse epidemic among rural adults in 2022 and changes since 2017. Covers rural access to mental health treatment, how comfortable rural adults with opioid addiction are discussing their concerns with others, perceptions of opioid abuse and its causes, and potential solutions to the opioid crisis.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Farm Bureau Federation
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Use of and Retention on Video, Telephone, and In-Person Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines modality of treatment delivery for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and how various modalities are associated with 90-day patient retention. Analyzes 17,182 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients who received buprenorphine for OUD treatment from March 2020 to March 2021 by video, telephone, in-person care, or a combination of the modalities. Includes data broken down by age, sex, race/ethnicity, VHA eligibility, housing status, substance use, mental health, comorbidities, and rurality, including urban, large rural, small/isolated rural, and unknown location.
Author(s): Madeline C. Frost, Lan Zhang, H. Myra Kim, Lewei (Allison) Lin
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(10), e2236298
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
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Physician Response to COVID-19–Driven Telehealth Flexibility for Opioid Use Disorder
Presents survey responses of physicians who provide Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment on telehealth flexibilities driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly their OUD telehealth policy preferences. Notes rural implications of access equity issues and policy changes.
Author(s): Tamara Beetham, David A. Fiellin, Susan H. Busch
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 28(9)
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI) 2022 Resource Guide
Highlights information pertaining to the behavioral health equity for children and adolescents, American Indian and Alaska Native, and LGBTQ+ populations. Discusses workforce issues and trauma-informed care. Features resource papers, presentations, websites, toolkits, and pamphlets.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
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Patient-Level and County-Level Trends in Nonfatal Opioid-Involved Overdose Emergency Medical Services Encounters — 491 Counties, United States, January 2018–March 2022
Reports on trends in rates of EMS encounters for nonfatal opioid-involved overdoses during January 2018–March 2022, based on data from 491 counties in 21 states. Includes trend data by quarter for rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Shannon M. Casillas, Cassandra M. Pickens, Erin K. Stokes, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(34), 1073-1080
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Last Updated: 3/27/2024