Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis.
Improving Access - NAM Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic Telehealth and Virtual Care Meeting Series
Highlights the proceedings of a meeting discussing the use of telehealth and virtual care to treat substance use disorder (SUD). Explores the effect the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth regulation and reimbursement. Features considerations for rural communities.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Highlights the proceedings of a meeting discussing the use of telehealth and virtual care to treat substance use disorder (SUD). Explores the effect the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth regulation and reimbursement. Features considerations for rural communities.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Spatiotemporal Trends in Three Smoothed Overdose Death Rates in US Counties, 2012–2020
Provides county-level U.S. maps depicting spatiotemporal patterns of synthetic opioid, any opioid, and psychostimulant overdose death rates from 2012 to 2020 and discusses overdose trends and potential response.
Author(s): McKinley E. Saunders, Jamie L. Humphrey, Barrot H. Lambdin
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 03/2023
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Provides county-level U.S. maps depicting spatiotemporal patterns of synthetic opioid, any opioid, and psychostimulant overdose death rates from 2012 to 2020 and discusses overdose trends and potential response.
Author(s): McKinley E. Saunders, Jamie L. Humphrey, Barrot H. Lambdin
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 03/2023
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Availability of Behavioral Health Providers and Services in Rural Areas, with Holly Andrilla
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Holly Andrilla, Deputy Director of the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on rural availability of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors, as well as recent developments in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Holly Andrilla, Deputy Director of the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on rural availability of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors, as well as recent developments in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Indigenous Evaluation Toolkit: An Actionable Guide for Organizations Serving American Indian/Alaska Native Communities through Opioid Prevention Programming
Toolkit presents guidance for American Indian and Alaska Native communities and organizations for providing opioid prevention services. Provides a four-phase plan for program design and details holistic and culturally competent approaches to opioid prevention.
Author(s): Danielle Eakins, Angela Gaffney, Caelin Marum, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Seven Directions - A Center for Indigenous Public Health
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Toolkit presents guidance for American Indian and Alaska Native communities and organizations for providing opioid prevention services. Provides a four-phase plan for program design and details holistic and culturally competent approaches to opioid prevention.
Author(s): Danielle Eakins, Angela Gaffney, Caelin Marum, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Seven Directions - A Center for Indigenous Public Health
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Evaluation of Post-Discharge Engagement for Emergency Department Patients with Opioid Use History Who Received Telehealth Recovery Coaching Services
Examines successful interventions for patients in emergency departments (EDs) who receive peer recovery coach (PRC) services via telehealth that support patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes 13 EDs in Indiana who implemented telehealth PRC services starting in 2018, including 7 rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes rate of successful follow-ups proceeding PRC services broken down by patient age, sex, race, drug use method, referral types, and metro, small, or rural living location.
Author(s): Dennis P. Watson, Peter Phalen, Spencer Medcalf, Sarah Messmer, Alan McGuire
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,18(9)
Date: 02/2023
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Examines successful interventions for patients in emergency departments (EDs) who receive peer recovery coach (PRC) services via telehealth that support patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes 13 EDs in Indiana who implemented telehealth PRC services starting in 2018, including 7 rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes rate of successful follow-ups proceeding PRC services broken down by patient age, sex, race, drug use method, referral types, and metro, small, or rural living location.
Author(s): Dennis P. Watson, Peter Phalen, Spencer Medcalf, Sarah Messmer, Alan McGuire
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,18(9)
Date: 02/2023
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Strategies to Recruit Rural Primary Care Providers to Implement a Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Focused Integrated Care Model
Highlights a study on an intervention aimed at addressing systemic barriers to accessing medications for opioid used disorder (MOUD) for rural patients via an integrated care model. Breaks down the intervention structure and discusses project replication and sustainability.
Author(s): Renee M. Cloutier, Evan S. Cole, Brianna L. McDonough, et al.
Citation: Implementation Research and Practice, 4, 1-12
Date: 01/2023
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Highlights a study on an intervention aimed at addressing systemic barriers to accessing medications for opioid used disorder (MOUD) for rural patients via an integrated care model. Breaks down the intervention structure and discusses project replication and sustainability.
Author(s): Renee M. Cloutier, Evan S. Cole, Brianna L. McDonough, et al.
Citation: Implementation Research and Practice, 4, 1-12
Date: 01/2023
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Over the Hills and Through the Hollers: How One Program is Assisting Residents of Appalachia with Opioid Use Recovery
Results of a study evaluating the Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to low-income adults recovering from opioid addiction in several rural eastern Kentucky counties. Examines the impact of KATR on service recipients' access to recovery services and supports.
Author(s): Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(3), 71-86
Date: 01/2023
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Results of a study evaluating the Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to low-income adults recovering from opioid addiction in several rural eastern Kentucky counties. Examines the impact of KATR on service recipients' access to recovery services and supports.
Author(s): Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(3), 71-86
Date: 01/2023
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2020 Rural Opioid Overdose Mortality
Highlights the rate of rural opioid overdose mortality in 2020 for several northern New England states and compares it to the national rate. Breaks down rates based on substances used as well.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Highlights the rate of rural opioid overdose mortality in 2020 for several northern New England states and compares it to the national rate. Breaks down rates based on substances used as well.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Telemedicine Use and Quality of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study of 1,768 clinicians treating 11,801 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), to examine the association between telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicators of OUD treatment quality. Explores medications for OUD (MOUD) prescribing and OUD-related clinical events, including drug overdose, inpatient detoxification, and rehabilitation center stay. Features statistics including patient and clinician characteristics, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural location.
Author(s): Ruth Hailu, Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alisa B. Busch, Michael L. Barnett
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1)
Date: 01/2023
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Results of a study of 1,768 clinicians treating 11,801 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), to examine the association between telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicators of OUD treatment quality. Explores medications for OUD (MOUD) prescribing and OUD-related clinical events, including drug overdose, inpatient detoxification, and rehabilitation center stay. Features statistics including patient and clinician characteristics, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural location.
Author(s): Ruth Hailu, Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alisa B. Busch, Michael L. Barnett
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1)
Date: 01/2023
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Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevalence Study: Findings Report
Report discusses the lifetime and past-year prevalence of mental health disorders and past-year substance use across the United States. Breaks down prevalence data by age, race, diagnosis, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): H. Ringeisen, M. Edlund, H. Guyer, et al.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: RTI International
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Report discusses the lifetime and past-year prevalence of mental health disorders and past-year substance use across the United States. Breaks down prevalence data by age, race, diagnosis, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): H. Ringeisen, M. Edlund, H. Guyer, et al.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: RTI International
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Last Updated: 3/26/2025