Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources

Addressing Opioid Overdose Deaths: The Vision for the HEALing Communities Study
Highlights a study on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ongoing HEALing Communities Study (HCS), which began in 2019 with the goal of reducing opioid overdose deaths by 40% over 3 years. Discusses the intersection of the two crises across the country and discusses the variations in rural and urban locations.
Author(s): Redonna K. Chandlera, Jennifer Villani, Thomas Clarke, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 217, 108329
Date: 12/2020
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Supporting Children and Families Affected by the Opioid Epidemic - Emerging Policy Considerations
Explores the effect of the opioid crisis on children and their families and makes policy recommendations. Breaks down rural and urban differences in opioid use and access to behavioral healthcare and discusses the policy implications of those differences.
Author(s): Laudan Y. Aron, Sarah Benatar, Rebecca Peters
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Promoting Access to Care for Women of Reproductive Age with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Rural Communities
Report highlights the barriers to mental healthcare and substance use disorder treatment for rural women of reproductive age. Discusses continuity of care, access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and workforce shortages among other barriers. Presents recommendations, such as telehealth and care coordination, and provides program examples from different states.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Georgia Health Policy Center
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Risky Substance Use Behaviors Among Adults Residing in Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Counties in the United States, 2017-2018
Compares the prevalence of risky substance use among adults living in rural and urban counties. Features statistics with breakdowns by use within the past year and within the past 30 days, for alcohol, tobacco, and 10 types of illicit drugs.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Michael D. Singleton, Katherine Youngen
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Substance Use among Rural and Urban Youth and Young Adults
Details substance use of youth aged 12-17 and young adults aged 18-25 in rural and urban areas. Looks specifically on use of alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs, and the misuse of prescription pain relievers and compares usage trends in rural areas to those in urban areas.
Author(s): Jennifer Lenardson, Nathan Paluso, Erika Ziller
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Risky Substance Use Behaviors Among Adolescents Residing in Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Counties in the United States, 2017-2018
Compares the prevalence of risky substance use among people ages 12-17 who are living in rural and urban counties. Features statistics with breakdowns by use within the past year and within the past 30 days, for alcohol, tobacco, and 10 types of illicit drugs.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Michael D. Singleton, Katherine Youngen
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Comment Letter on HHS Report to Congress on Telehealth for Pediatric SUD
Reviews the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, Reducing Barriers to Furnishing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Using Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pediatric Populations Under Medicaid: Final Report. Covers the role of telehealth in mitigating the shortage of behavioral health providers and expanding behavioral health services to children covered by Medicaid. Discusses the need for additional research on telehealth in Medicaid, information sharing between states, and addressing barriers to technology.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Increase in Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Cocaine: United States, 2009–2018
Reports on trends in drug overdose deaths involving cocaine, with data by sex, age group, race and Hispanic origin, and concurrent involvement of opioids. Includes cocaine overdose death rate data for 2018 for urban and rural areas by Census region.
Author(s): Holly Hedegaard, Merianne Rose Spencer, Matthew F. Garnett
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Rates of Alcohol-induced Deaths Among Adults Aged 25 and Over in Urban and Rural Areas: United States, 2000–2018
Examines trends in alcohol-induced deaths among adults aged 25 and over. Includes data by sex for urban and rural residents from 2000 through 2018, with information for metropolitan, micropolitan, and non-core areas.
Author(s): Merianne Rose Spencer, Sally C. Curtin, Holly Hedegaard
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Costs of Emergency Department Visits for Mental and Substance Use Disorders in the United States, 2017
Examines the costs of emergency department (ED) visits with diagnoses of mental and substance use disorders compared to total ED visits, with data on total costs and cost per visit. Includes information by hospital location for large metropolitan, small metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Zeynal Karaca, Brian J. Moore
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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