Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Comparing Smoking Cessation Interventions among Underserved Patients Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: A Pragmatic Trial Protocol
Presents a study comparing 4 different smoking cessation support programs offered in tandem with lung cancer screening for underserved patients. Evaluates each intervention offered to Black, Latinx, and rural patients and draws conclusions based on outcomes.
Author(s): Rachel Kohn, Anil Vachani, Dylan Small, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 19(2), 303-314
Date: 02/2022
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Presents a study comparing 4 different smoking cessation support programs offered in tandem with lung cancer screening for underserved patients. Evaluates each intervention offered to Black, Latinx, and rural patients and draws conclusions based on outcomes.
Author(s): Rachel Kohn, Anil Vachani, Dylan Small, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 19(2), 303-314
Date: 02/2022
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Hazardous Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Harm in Rural and Remote Communities: A Scoping Review
Presents a review of studies exploring hazardous alcohol use and alcohol-related harm in rural and remote communities. Details the health effects and other negative outcomes of hazardous alcohol use and highlights correlations across rural communities.
Author(s): Erik Loewen Friesen, Jacob Bailey, Sarah Hyett, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Public Health, 7(2), E177-E187
Date: 02/2022
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Presents a review of studies exploring hazardous alcohol use and alcohol-related harm in rural and remote communities. Details the health effects and other negative outcomes of hazardous alcohol use and highlights correlations across rural communities.
Author(s): Erik Loewen Friesen, Jacob Bailey, Sarah Hyett, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Public Health, 7(2), E177-E187
Date: 02/2022
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Rural Health Research Recap: Opioid Use Disorder and Treatment: Rural-Urban Comparisons
Summary of research on opioid use disorder (OUD) among youth, young adults, and pregnant women, the impact of OUD on hospitals and emergency departments, and the use of buprenorphine and partial psychiatric hospitalization programs as treatment for OUD. Features statistics including population-adjusted emergency department rates per 100 people from 2005-2016 and opioid-related emergency room visit rates per 100,000 people in 2006 and 2013, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Per Ostmo
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Summary of research on opioid use disorder (OUD) among youth, young adults, and pregnant women, the impact of OUD on hospitals and emergency departments, and the use of buprenorphine and partial psychiatric hospitalization programs as treatment for OUD. Features statistics including population-adjusted emergency department rates per 100 people from 2005-2016 and opioid-related emergency room visit rates per 100,000 people in 2006 and 2013, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Per Ostmo
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress
Offers strategies to support development and integration of behavioral health services across healthcare and community-based organizations, including leveraging payment systems to support coordinated care for farm families and aligning federal grant programs to address mental health and substance use disorders. Features recommendations including integrating primary and behavioral care for initial treatment of mental health and substance misuse concerns, expanding the workforce to improve rural behavioral health services capacity, increasing telehealth services, and expanding private and public insurance coverage.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers strategies to support development and integration of behavioral health services across healthcare and community-based organizations, including leveraging payment systems to support coordinated care for farm families and aligning federal grant programs to address mental health and substance use disorders. Features recommendations including integrating primary and behavioral care for initial treatment of mental health and substance misuse concerns, expanding the workforce to improve rural behavioral health services capacity, increasing telehealth services, and expanding private and public insurance coverage.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Evaluation of State-Led Surveillance of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome — Six U.S. States, 2018–2021
Examines data collection challenges and infrastructure gaps that impact surveillance of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), based on information from 6 states with mandated NAS reporting. Includes brief discussion of rural concerns, including disparities in the incidence of opioid use disorder and NAS and gaps in rural infrastructure and access to care.
Author(s): Shahla M. Jilani, Kristina West, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(2), 37-42
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Examines data collection challenges and infrastructure gaps that impact surveillance of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), based on information from 6 states with mandated NAS reporting. Includes brief discussion of rural concerns, including disparities in the incidence of opioid use disorder and NAS and gaps in rural infrastructure and access to care.
Author(s): Shahla M. Jilani, Kristina West, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(2), 37-42
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Stigma Experienced by Rural Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorder: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Synthesis
Explores the stigma experienced by rural pregnant women with substance use disorder (SUD). Bases findings on a literature review of studies from 2000-2022. Breaks down the various ways and areas rural pregnant women with SUD experience stigma, such as within the community and healthcare settings. Discusses the importance of comprehensive care that takes these experiences into consideration.
Author(s): Victoria Bright, Julia Riddle, Jean Kerver
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15065
Date: 2022
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Explores the stigma experienced by rural pregnant women with substance use disorder (SUD). Bases findings on a literature review of studies from 2000-2022. Breaks down the various ways and areas rural pregnant women with SUD experience stigma, such as within the community and healthcare settings. Discusses the importance of comprehensive care that takes these experiences into consideration.
Author(s): Victoria Bright, Julia Riddle, Jean Kerver
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15065
Date: 2022
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Family-Focused Interventions to Prevent Substance Use Disorders in Adolescence
Proceedings from a workshop exploring barriers to and opportunities for implementing interventions and highlighting efforts to incorporate interventions into statewide healthcare strategies. Includes sections on interventions in healthcare settings, program implementation, federal agency perspectives, and possible future directions. Mentions initiatives geared toward tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Proceedings from a workshop exploring barriers to and opportunities for implementing interventions and highlighting efforts to incorporate interventions into statewide healthcare strategies. Includes sections on interventions in healthcare settings, program implementation, federal agency perspectives, and possible future directions. Mentions initiatives geared toward tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Tobacco Where You Live: Native Communities
Report focuses on tobacco use in American tribal communities. Differentiates traditional uses of tobacco from commercial use and highlights strategies for highlighting this difference to reduce rates of commercial tobacco use.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Report focuses on tobacco use in American tribal communities. Differentiates traditional uses of tobacco from commercial use and highlights strategies for highlighting this difference to reduce rates of commercial tobacco use.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Improving Access Through Regulatory and Legal Change: Proceedings of a Workshop
Offers proceedings from the March 2022 workshop, Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Examining Federal Regulations and Laws. Covered topics include personal perspectives on methadone treatment, access and barriers to access for rural and other underserved populations, and federal policies and regulatory flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Sciences Policy, Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Offers proceedings from the March 2022 workshop, Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Examining Federal Regulations and Laws. Covered topics include personal perspectives on methadone treatment, access and barriers to access for rural and other underserved populations, and federal policies and regulatory flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Sciences Policy, Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Supporting Telehealth and Technology-Assisted Services for People Who Use Drugs: A Resource Guide
Offers policy, training, and planning resources for substance use disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Offers policy, training, and planning resources for substance use disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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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: 1/15/2026