Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Rural Healthy People 2030
Presents literature reviews of 20 rural public health priority topics identified through a survey of rural stakeholders. Reviews the scope of each topic, discusses related goals and objectives from the national Healthy People 2030 initiative, identifies affected populations, highlights interventions and solutions, and more. Topics include mental health, substance use, social determinants of health, access to care, quality of care, chronic health conditions, and COVID-19.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Jane N. Bolin, Timothy Callaghan, et al.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
view details
Presents literature reviews of 20 rural public health priority topics identified through a survey of rural stakeholders. Reviews the scope of each topic, discusses related goals and objectives from the national Healthy People 2030 initiative, identifies affected populations, highlights interventions and solutions, and more. Topics include mental health, substance use, social determinants of health, access to care, quality of care, chronic health conditions, and COVID-19.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Jane N. Bolin, Timothy Callaghan, et al.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
view details
Health Disparities in Central Nervous System Disorders: Driving Transformative Change: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief
Highlights the proceedings of a workshop on strategies to reduce health disparities relating to central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Explores CNS health disparities in rural and low-income communities and among racial and ethnic minority groups, such as American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations. Discusses the roles academia, industry, and the government have in creating a diverse neuroscience workforce to advance community partnerships and collaborations.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Sciences Policy
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Highlights the proceedings of a workshop on strategies to reduce health disparities relating to central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Explores CNS health disparities in rural and low-income communities and among racial and ethnic minority groups, such as American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations. Discusses the roles academia, industry, and the government have in creating a diverse neuroscience workforce to advance community partnerships and collaborations.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Sciences Policy
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
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, diagnosis, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): H. Ringeisen, M. Edlund, H. Guyer, et al.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: RTI International
view details
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, diagnosis, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): H. Ringeisen, M. Edlund, H. Guyer, et al.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: RTI International
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Early Interventions for Psychosis - First Episodes and High Risk Populations: Proceedings of a Workshop
Highlights the proceedings of a 2022 workshop hosted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and discusses how early interventions can improve outcomes for those who are as high risk of behavioral health issues. Details the challenges rurality can present to providers and patients.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Highlights the proceedings of a 2022 workshop hosted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and discusses how early interventions can improve outcomes for those who are as high risk of behavioral health issues. Details the challenges rurality can present to providers and patients.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Disparities in Current Cigarette Smoking Among US Adults With Mental Health Conditions
Examines the prevalence of smoking among adults with reported mental health conditions. Analyzes 19,398 respondents from the 2019 and 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and breaks down the data state-by-state as well as by age, sex, sexual orientation, education, disability, annual income, marriage status, health insurance and employment status, having been arrested in the past 12 months, and large metro, small metro, and nonmetro/rural area.
Author(s): Caitlin G. Loretan, Teresa W. Wang, Christina V. Watson, Ahmed Jamal
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19
Date: 12/2022
view details
Examines the prevalence of smoking among adults with reported mental health conditions. Analyzes 19,398 respondents from the 2019 and 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and breaks down the data state-by-state as well as by age, sex, sexual orientation, education, disability, annual income, marriage status, health insurance and employment status, having been arrested in the past 12 months, and large metro, small metro, and nonmetro/rural area.
Author(s): Caitlin G. Loretan, Teresa W. Wang, Christina V. Watson, Ahmed Jamal
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19
Date: 12/2022
view details
Florence County Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse and Mental Health Coalition - Increasing Community Capacity and Resources through Partnership
Details a community effort to address substance use and mental health issues in rural Florence County, WI. Highlights the coalition's efforts to address the behavioral health of the county's youth and families through school-based efforts and discusses how collective action can address behavioral health issues in rural communities.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Bright Research Group, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
view details
Details a community effort to address substance use and mental health issues in rural Florence County, WI. Highlights the coalition's efforts to address the behavioral health of the county's youth and families through school-based efforts and discusses how collective action can address behavioral health issues in rural communities.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Bright Research Group, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
view details
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Emergency Department Visits Related to Substance Use Disorders, 2019
Explores emergency department (ED) visits related to substance use disorders (SUD) using data from the 2019 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Presents the number and percentage of SUD-related ED visits by race and ethnicity for selected patient characteristics, including sex, age group, rural/urban location, and the social vulnerability of the county in which the individual resides.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
view details
Explores emergency department (ED) visits related to substance use disorders (SUD) using data from the 2019 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Presents the number and percentage of SUD-related ED visits by race and ethnicity for selected patient characteristics, including sex, age group, rural/urban location, and the social vulnerability of the county in which the individual resides.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
view details
Early Changes in Waivered Clinicians and Utilization of Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder After Implementation of the 2021 HHS Buprenorphine Practice Guidelines
Report examines the changes in access to buprenorphine following the implementation of new HHS guidelines as of April 2021. Discusses the revised guidelines and analyzes their effect on access to buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Report examines the changes in access to buprenorphine following the implementation of new HHS guidelines as of April 2021. Discusses the revised guidelines and analyzes their effect on access to buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
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: 10/27/2025