Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources

Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force: Redesigning the Health Care Delivery System to Better Meet the Needs of Youth
Presents policy recommendations from 50 experts and thought leaders regarding how to maximize the potential of the U.S. healthcare system to better serve youth with behavioral health needs. Covers the behavioral health workforce, transparency and compliance with existing screening and treatment requirements, promoting integrated primary care and behavioral health services in pediatric settings, the needs of youth with the highest acuity behavioral health needs, and strengthening crisis and stabilization systems. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Indian Health Service Program Evaluation Services: Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Projects Aggregate Report 2021-2024
Report evaluates the Indian Health Service's Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project aimed at addressing opioid use disorder in tribal communities. Collects and evaluates data from grantees after the program's first three years, April 1, 2021-March 31, 2024. Explores grantees' progress in building organizational capacity, community and educational events, and professional trainings, among other measures.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Sexualized Drug Use Factors Among Rural Sexual Minority Men
Presents a study identifying factors that correspond to sexualized drug use, or substance use immediately before or during sex, for rural sexual minority men. Highlights risk factors of sexualized drug use, such as HIV infection, and details corresponding demographic and behavioral characteristics.
Author(s): Christopher Owens, Benjamin N. Montemayor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12917
Date: 2025
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Medicaid Behavioral Health Providers Delivering Most Behavioral Health Services via Telehealth Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Issue Brief
Examines the extent to which Medicaid behavioral health providers shifted their practices to mostly telebehavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic through December 2021. Explores differences between specialty and non-specialty behavioral health providers, providers serving enrollees with mental health conditions versus substance use disorders, and rural and urban providers.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Sobering Statistics: Acceleration of Alcohol-Attributable Deaths Across the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Provides information on alcohol use and drinking guidelines. Includes data on alcohol-attributable deaths in the U.S. per 100,00 people from 2006-2022, with breakdowns by state, race/ethnicity, sex, age, and large metro, small/medium metro, or nonmetro location.
Author(s): Andrea Stewart, Colin Planalp, Tyler Winkelman
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Perceptions of Substance Use Disorder in Rural Areas: How the Brain Disease Model Impacts Public Stigma
Presents a study on substance use disorder (SUD) stigma in rural communities by comparing the results from a 2020 study to a survey conducted in 2023. Explores rural perceptions in SUD as a legitimate illness and discusses perceptions of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and SUD treatment and recovery.
Author(s): Erin E. Miller, Sarah Schweitzer, Patricia Ahmed, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3531
Date: 12/2024
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Lifting Kids Up with Grace: How a New Mexico Community Built a Grassroots Youth and Family Center from the Ground Up
Features the GRACE Youth and Family Center for Everyone, a New Mexico grassroots initiative that offers free programming to children, teenagers, and families in a rural county with high rates of substance use.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Buprenorphine Injection Among Rural Persons Who Inject Drugs
Describes buprenorphine use by rural people who inject drugs, using data from the Rural Opioid Initiative, to inform patient-clinician discussions and public health interventions. Features demographics and behavioral characteristics of 2,369 people who were surveyed between 2018-2020.
Author(s): Kaitlin A. Zinsli, Elenore P. Bhatraju, Judith Feinberg, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(12), e2450108
Date: 12/2024
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Differences in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Testing and Treatment by Opioid, Stimulant, and Polysubstance Use among People Who Use Drugs in Rural U.S. Communities
Examines hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in rural people who use drugs (PWUD) when drug combinations are used. Analyzes 2,705 PWUD across 10 rural communities in the U.S. from 2018-2020 for drug use combinations, testing, treatment, and more.
Author(s): Angela T. Estadt, David Kline, William C. Miller, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 214
Date: 11/2024
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