Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
The Rural Behavioral Health Crisis Continuum: Considerations and Emerging State Strategies
Presents examples of state strategies for bolstering the rural behavioral health crisis care continuum at each level of care.
Author(s): Miriam Pearsall, Sandra Wilkniss
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Presents examples of state strategies for bolstering the rural behavioral health crisis care continuum at each level of care.
Author(s): Miriam Pearsall, Sandra Wilkniss
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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The State Perspective on Rural Behavioral Health Crisis Services
Provides an overview of a 12-month State Policy Academy on Rural Mental Health Crisis Services to help five states - Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin - work to improve rural behavioral health crisis services. Summarizes lessons learned, successes, and next steps. Covers data-informed strategies, cross-state and stakeholder partnerships, financing and funding approaches, the behavioral health workforce, and telehealth.
Author(s): Miriam Pearsall, Sandra Wilkniss
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Provides an overview of a 12-month State Policy Academy on Rural Mental Health Crisis Services to help five states - Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin - work to improve rural behavioral health crisis services. Summarizes lessons learned, successes, and next steps. Covers data-informed strategies, cross-state and stakeholder partnerships, financing and funding approaches, the behavioral health workforce, and telehealth.
Author(s): Miriam Pearsall, Sandra Wilkniss
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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A Qualitative Analysis of Rural Syringe Service Program Fidelity in Appalachian Kentucky: Staff and Participant Perspectives
Presents a study exploring the fidelity of rural syringe service programs (SSPs) to the core components of SSPs. Highlights five SSPs in rural Appalachia and evaluates the programs' adherence to the six core components of SSPs. Bases findings on interviews with clients and staff.
Author(s): E.J. Batty, U. Ibragimov, M. Fadanelli, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(2), 328-337
Date: 03/2023
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Presents a study exploring the fidelity of rural syringe service programs (SSPs) to the core components of SSPs. Highlights five SSPs in rural Appalachia and evaluates the programs' adherence to the six core components of SSPs. Bases findings on interviews with clients and staff.
Author(s): E.J. Batty, U. Ibragimov, M. Fadanelli, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(2), 328-337
Date: 03/2023
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Teens Linked to Care Toolkit
A toolkit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for developing prevention programs addressing substance use and sexual risk for youth in rural communities. Includes information on program planning, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability as well as two case studies from the pilot program using either a school-based or community-based model.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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A toolkit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for developing prevention programs addressing substance use and sexual risk for youth in rural communities. Includes information on program planning, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability as well as two case studies from the pilot program using either a school-based or community-based model.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Community Member Perspectives on Adapting the Cascade of Care for Opioid Use Disorder for a Tribal Nation in the United States
Explores the potential efficacy of the Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Cascade of Care model for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Bases conclusion on interviews with clinicians, peer support specialists, cultural practitioners, and others familiar with OUD treatment for Anishinaabe people in rural Minnesota. Breaks down data by age, sex, and employment type.
Author(s): Frank Johnson Jr, Amy RedCloud, Jennifer Mootz, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 118(8), 1540-1548
Date: 03/2023
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Explores the potential efficacy of the Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Cascade of Care model for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Bases conclusion on interviews with clinicians, peer support specialists, cultural practitioners, and others familiar with OUD treatment for Anishinaabe people in rural Minnesota. Breaks down data by age, sex, and employment type.
Author(s): Frank Johnson Jr, Amy RedCloud, Jennifer Mootz, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 118(8), 1540-1548
Date: 03/2023
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Review of Four CARA Programs and Preparing for Future Evaluations
Report highlights a review of four programs funded through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) aimed at expanding access to overdose prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder. Explores the impact of the programs on their communities and makes recommendations for policy makers. Discusses challenges and program adaptations for rural communities.
Additional links: Read Online, Report Highlights
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Report highlights a review of four programs funded through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) aimed at expanding access to overdose prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder. Explores the impact of the programs on their communities and makes recommendations for policy makers. Discusses challenges and program adaptations for rural communities.
Additional links: Read Online, Report Highlights
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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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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The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use
Explores the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental health and substance use. Tracks rates of anxiety and depression, as well as substance use, from before and after the pandemic. Breaks down data by age, race, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Nirmita Panchal, Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz, Cynthia Cox
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Explores the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental health and substance use. Tracks rates of anxiety and depression, as well as substance use, from before and after the pandemic. Breaks down data by age, race, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Nirmita Panchal, Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz, Cynthia Cox
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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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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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Alcohol use
- Behavioral health
- Behavioral health workforce
- Illicit drug use
- Prescription drug misuse
- Substance use and misuse
- Tobacco use
Last Updated: 4/1/2025