Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Behavioral Health Equity Report 2021
Provides a breakdown and discussion of data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019. Details youth and adult mental health and substance use indicators by race and ethnicity, income level, and metro or nonmetro county, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Provides a breakdown and discussion of data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019. Details youth and adult mental health and substance use indicators by race and ethnicity, income level, and metro or nonmetro county, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Trends in and Characteristics of Buprenorphine Misuse Among Adults in the US
Results of a study to identify prescription opioids that are most frequently misused, examine differences in motivations for misuse between buprenorphine and nonbuprenorphine prescription opioids, and explore trends in and factors associated with buprenorphine misuse among people with or without opioid use disorder. Features statistics on sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and behavioral health status among adults with past-year buprenorphine use, with breakdowns by large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Beth Han, Christopher M. Jones, Emily B. Einstein, Wilson M. Compton
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(10)
Date: 10/2021
view details
Results of a study to identify prescription opioids that are most frequently misused, examine differences in motivations for misuse between buprenorphine and nonbuprenorphine prescription opioids, and explore trends in and factors associated with buprenorphine misuse among people with or without opioid use disorder. Features statistics on sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and behavioral health status among adults with past-year buprenorphine use, with breakdowns by large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Beth Han, Christopher M. Jones, Emily B. Einstein, Wilson M. Compton
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(10)
Date: 10/2021
view details
Transforming State Behavioral Health Systems: Findings from States on the Impact of CCBHC Implementation
Reports information from surveys and interviews with state Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program directors from the 8 original demonstration states, including Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Shares how the CCBHC program helped states address mental health and substance use issues in their communities by lowering costs, improving outcomes, building healthcare system capacity for mental health and substance use, and increasing the infrastructure to meet the rising need of care. Includes specific examples of how the CCBHC program improved access to urgent recovery centers, crisis centers, and telehealth services in rural communities.
Author(s): Rachael Matulis, Dorn Schuffman, Rebecca Farley David, Samantha Holcombe
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
view details
Reports information from surveys and interviews with state Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program directors from the 8 original demonstration states, including Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Shares how the CCBHC program helped states address mental health and substance use issues in their communities by lowering costs, improving outcomes, building healthcare system capacity for mental health and substance use, and increasing the infrastructure to meet the rising need of care. Includes specific examples of how the CCBHC program improved access to urgent recovery centers, crisis centers, and telehealth services in rural communities.
Author(s): Rachael Matulis, Dorn Schuffman, Rebecca Farley David, Samantha Holcombe
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
view details
PrEP Care Continuum Engagement Among Persons Who Inject Drugs: Rural and Urban Differences in Stigma and Social Infrastructure
Study examining stigma related to drug use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as awareness of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment in New York City and rural southern Illinois. Highlights barriers and facilitators to willingness to take PrEP based on interviews with 57 people who inject drugs (PWID) who participate in syringe service programs, comparing rural and urban responses.
Author(s): Suzan M. Walters, David Frank, Brent Van Ham, et al.
Citation: AIDS and Behavior
Date: 10/2021
view details
Study examining stigma related to drug use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as awareness of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment in New York City and rural southern Illinois. Highlights barriers and facilitators to willingness to take PrEP based on interviews with 57 people who inject drugs (PWID) who participate in syringe service programs, comparing rural and urban responses.
Author(s): Suzan M. Walters, David Frank, Brent Van Ham, et al.
Citation: AIDS and Behavior
Date: 10/2021
view details
Secondhand Smoke Exposure at Home and/ or in a Vehicle: Differences Between Urban and Non-Urban Adolescents in the United States, From 2015 to 2018
Explores geographic disparities in secondhand smoke exposure for urban and non-urban youth. Analyzes 69,249 middle and high school students from the 2015-2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey and breaks down the sample by sex, grade level, type of tobacco, status related to living with a tobacco user, year studied, and urban versus non-urban location.
Author(s): Dale S. Mantey, Onyinye Omega-Njemnobi, Cristina S. Barroso
Citation: Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 23(8), 1327-1333
Date: 08/2021
view details
Explores geographic disparities in secondhand smoke exposure for urban and non-urban youth. Analyzes 69,249 middle and high school students from the 2015-2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey and breaks down the sample by sex, grade level, type of tobacco, status related to living with a tobacco user, year studied, and urban versus non-urban location.
Author(s): Dale S. Mantey, Onyinye Omega-Njemnobi, Cristina S. Barroso
Citation: Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 23(8), 1327-1333
Date: 08/2021
view details
Improving Behavioral Health Services for Individuals with SMI in Rural and Remote Communities
Discusses behavioral health workforce shortages in rural and remote areas and the effect this has on healthcare access for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Highlights strategies for reducing barriers to access and improve workforce retention. Provides examples of programs to improve access in various states.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: American Psychiatric Association, SMI Adviser, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Discusses behavioral health workforce shortages in rural and remote areas and the effect this has on healthcare access for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Highlights strategies for reducing barriers to access and improve workforce retention. Provides examples of programs to improve access in various states.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: American Psychiatric Association, SMI Adviser, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Barriers for Implementing the Hub and Spoke Model to Expand Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: A Case Study of Montana
Highlights a study of the barriers to the implementation of hub and spoke programs to provide treatment for opioid use disorder in rural Montana. Features data based on interviews with 65 programs that provide medication for opioid use disorder in Montana and discusses the barriers to their efforts.
Author(s): Brandn Green, Danielle Christine Rhubart, Matthew R Filteau
Citation: Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 15
Date: 08/2021
view details
Highlights a study of the barriers to the implementation of hub and spoke programs to provide treatment for opioid use disorder in rural Montana. Features data based on interviews with 65 programs that provide medication for opioid use disorder in Montana and discusses the barriers to their efforts.
Author(s): Brandn Green, Danielle Christine Rhubart, Matthew R Filteau
Citation: Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 15
Date: 08/2021
view details
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Innovations in Native American Communities
Report highlights the efforts of tribal programs to address opioid use disorder in their communities. Presents success stories of programs providing culturally competent treatment, prevention, and recovery for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in several states.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
view details
Report highlights the efforts of tribal programs to address opioid use disorder in their communities. Presents success stories of programs providing culturally competent treatment, prevention, and recovery for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in several states.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
view details
Multilevel Modeling of County-level Excessive Alcohol Use, Rurality, and COVID-19 Case Fatality Rates in the US
Presents a study on the relationship between COVID-19 outcomes and elevated alcohol use in rural counties. Looks at levels of alcohol use and misuse in rural counties prior to the pandemic and compares it with COVID-19 mortality data. Breaks down data by rurality and alcohol use while controlling for other comorbidities such as obesity, smoking, and being over the age of 65.
Author(s): George Pro, Paul A. Gilbert, Julie A. Baldwin, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 16(6), e0253466
Date: 06/2021
view details
Presents a study on the relationship between COVID-19 outcomes and elevated alcohol use in rural counties. Looks at levels of alcohol use and misuse in rural counties prior to the pandemic and compares it with COVID-19 mortality data. Breaks down data by rurality and alcohol use while controlling for other comorbidities such as obesity, smoking, and being over the age of 65.
Author(s): George Pro, Paul A. Gilbert, Julie A. Baldwin, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 16(6), e0253466
Date: 06/2021
view details
Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
Evidence-based resource guide examining telehealth initiatives to treat serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) based on published research. Topics cover effectiveness of telehealth modalities, implementation of evidence-based practices, examples of telehealth treatment programs, and evaluation resources. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout the guide.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Evidence-based resource guide examining telehealth initiatives to treat serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) based on published research. Topics cover effectiveness of telehealth modalities, implementation of evidence-based practices, examples of telehealth treatment programs, and evaluation resources. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout the guide.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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: 6/16/2025