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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

Sep 18, 2023 - Highlights a diversion program for people jailed with substance use or mental health condition in a rural and tribal Arizona county. Notes challenges include finding a provider to work through the program as well as ensuring culturally competent care and equitable access for the tribal population. Includes information on the grant used to fund the program.
Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice
Sep 15, 2023 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is seeking comment on an information collection request regarding revisions to data collections related to the National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N–SUMHSS). The N–SUMHSS is the most comprehensive national source of data on substance use and mental health treatment facilities. Comments are due by November 14, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 13, 2023 - Discusses the challenges that come with providing family-based residential treatment for addiction in rural Minnesota. Notes that treatment in a family-based facility can improve pregnancy outcomes, increase chances of completing treatment, and keep families from being separated. Maternal opioid-related diagnoses have increased in recent years with a disproportionate rise seen in rural areas.
Source: KFF Health News
Sep 7, 2023 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is seeking comments on potential changes to its Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center (EBPRC), specifically regarding the possible introduction of three new domains for the EBPRC website. SAMHSA seeks input on four general questions about the EBPRC overall, as well as each of the domains described in this notice. Comments are due by October 13, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 5, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on a proposed information collection titled "Public Health/Public Safety Strategies to Reduce Drug Overdose Data Collection." This data collection collects information on overdose prevention efforts that involve public health and public safety sectors or address justice-involved populations at increased risk of overdose. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 22, 2023 - Describes the rise of addiction among rural Black residents. New research has found that overdoses have increased for young Black people in both urban and rural areas. Highlights rural specific conditions that make drug use more common and describes how lack of access to healthcare and addiction treatment impacts rural residents.
Source: Time

Last Updated: 9/19/2023