Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources

Patterns and Characteristics of Methamphetamine Use Among Adults — United States, 2015–2018
Reports on methamphetamine use rates in the U.S. and identifies characteristics associated with past-year methamphetamine use. Includes data on past-year meth use by county of residence for large metropolitan, small metro, and nonmetro counties.
Author(s): Christopher M. Jones, Wilson M. Compton, Desiree Mustaquim
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(12), 317-323
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2017–2018
Examines drug overdose deaths involving all opioids, prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids other than methadone. Includes data by county urbanization level for metropolitan and nonmetro counties.
Author(s): Nana Wilson, Mbabazi Kariisa, Puja Seth, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(11), 290-297
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Predictors of Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Treatment Use Among Rural Adults using Stimulants over Three Years
Details a study on the factors that predict mental health and substance use treatment utilization among rural stimulant users. Breaks down data from 2002 to 2008 by race, age, and substance use, among other measures.
Author(s): Michael A. Cucciare, Songthip T. Ounpraseuth, Geoffrey M. Curran, Brenda M. Booth
Citation: Substance Abuse, 40(3), 363-370
Date: 02/2020
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Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: The Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 63
Details guidelines for implementing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for healthcare professionals, policymakers, patients, and families. Discusses the different medications available to treat OUD, how and when to administer them, as well as challenges to expanding access to MOUD treatment.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Rural Community Action Guide: Building Stronger, Healthy, Drug-Free Rural Communities
Provides an overview of challenges rural communities face related to substance use disorder (SUD), including prescription opioid misuse. Identifies action steps rural communities can take related to prevention, treatment, recovery, and SUD-related issues such as stigma, transportation barriers, and lack of employment opportunities. Features programs that are working to address these issues in rural communities.
Additional links: Promising Practices Supplement
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of National Drug Control Policy
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Caring for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Primary Care Settings
Report explores how primary care providers can best provide mental health and substance use disorder services to their patients. Discusses the barriers to behavioral healthcare in rural areas such as insurance coverage, workforce shortages, and lack of transportation, among others, and highlights the role primary care providers can play in overcoming those barriers.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Stem the Tide: Opioid Stewardship Measurement Implementation Guide
Identifies best practices for hospitals and health systems to use data to improve opioid stewardship. Addresses 6 elements that can support facilities through implementing a data-driven opioid stewardship program. Provides a list of quality improvement measures for hospitals and health systems to track progress. Highlights a consortium of providers serving rural communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin focused on access to treatment and interventions that address social determinants of health.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Opportunities to Improve Opioid Use Disorder and Infectious Disease Services: Integrating Responses to a Dual Epidemic
Examines opioid use and drug-related infectious diseases. Identifies the barriers to integration of opioid use disorder (OUD) and infectious disease services, including barriers faced in rural areas such as workforce shortages. Offers strategies to overcome those barriers. Offers case studies of programs that have successfully integrated services, including programs serving rural areas. Includes policy recommendations.
Additional links: Read Online, Report Highlights
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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An Innovative Approach to Care: Integrating Mental Health Services Through Telemedicine in Rural School-Based Health Centers
Presents a study on the use of telemedicine to provide behavioral healthcare to rural children and adolescents through school-based health centers. Discusses the West Virginia Children's Access Network (WVCAN) and evaluates the successes and shortcomings of both the school-based health center model and telemedicine at providing behavioral healthcare to rural children.
Author(s): Taniya Pradhan, E. Ashley Six-Workman, Kari-Beth Law
Citation: Psychiatric Services, 70(3), 239-242
Date: 12/2019
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A Systematic Review of Rural-specific Barriers to Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in the United States
Analyzes a number of studies looking at medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder in rural areas. Explores barriers to accessing MAT in rural areas and makes rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): Jamey J. Lister, Addie Weaver, Jennifer D. Ellis, Joseph A. Himle, David M. Ledgerwood
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Date: 12/2019
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