Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Continuity of Pain Clinic Care Among Rural and Urban Veterans
Presents a study exploring the differences in continuity of pain care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for rural and urban veterans. Breaks down data by age, sex, pain severity, and behavioral health disorders, among other measures.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Rena E. Courtney, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70031
Date: 05/2025
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Presents a study exploring the differences in continuity of pain care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for rural and urban veterans. Breaks down data by age, sex, pain severity, and behavioral health disorders, among other measures.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Rena E. Courtney, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70031
Date: 05/2025
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Federal and State Reimbursement for Youth Behavioral Health Services
Report details Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of behavioral health services for rural people under 21 years of age. Breaks down reimbursement eligibility for behavioral health providers in all 50 states and discusses barriers to access in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Report details Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of behavioral health services for rural people under 21 years of age. Breaks down reimbursement eligibility for behavioral health providers in all 50 states and discusses barriers to access in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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The Rural and Urban Supply of Clinicians With a DEA Waiver to Prescribe Buprenorphine in 2022 Prior to the Elimination of the Waiver Requirement
Report explores the differences in rates of clinicians with DEA waivers to prescribe buprenorphine in 2022 in rural versus urban counties. Highlights the rural gaps in access to buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder prior to the elimination of the DEA waiver requirement in 2023. Provides rural, urban, and regional comparisons.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Report explores the differences in rates of clinicians with DEA waivers to prescribe buprenorphine in 2022 in rural versus urban counties. Highlights the rural gaps in access to buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder prior to the elimination of the DEA waiver requirement in 2023. Provides rural, urban, and regional comparisons.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Different Forms of Stigma and Rural Primary Care Professionals' Willingness to Prescribe Buprenorphine
Presents a study exploring the different types of stigma affecting buprenorphine and other medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescribing rates in rural primary care settings. Details perceived stigmas around MOUD by providers, such as the fear of being harmed by patients, fear of their professional image being harmed, and the fear of the medications harming their patients.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Sean Bogart, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 171, 209633
Date: 04/2025
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Presents a study exploring the different types of stigma affecting buprenorphine and other medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescribing rates in rural primary care settings. Details perceived stigmas around MOUD by providers, such as the fear of being harmed by patients, fear of their professional image being harmed, and the fear of the medications harming their patients.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Sean Bogart, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 171, 209633
Date: 04/2025
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"I'm Tired of Seeing My Friends Die": Barriers and Facilitators to Participating in Clinical Trials Among Rural People Who Use Drugs in the United States
Highlights a study exploring the barriers and facilitators to clinical trial participation by rural people who use drugs (PWUDs). Bases findings on interviews with rural PWUDs in Kentucky, Ohio, and Oregon.
Author(s): Kathryn E. Lancaster, Angela T. Estadt, Madison N. Enderle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e70009
Date: 03/2025
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Highlights a study exploring the barriers and facilitators to clinical trial participation by rural people who use drugs (PWUDs). Bases findings on interviews with rural PWUDs in Kentucky, Ohio, and Oregon.
Author(s): Kathryn E. Lancaster, Angela T. Estadt, Madison N. Enderle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e70009
Date: 03/2025
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Epidemiology of 911 Calls for Opioid Overdose in Nogales, Arizona
Presents a study reviewing the 911 calls pertaining to opioid overdose in the Nogales, AZ area. Details the prehospital care received in the rural, borderland community and evaluates EMS's adherence to naloxone distribution protocol.
Author(s): Melody Glenn, Darien Stratton, Keith Primeau, Amber Rice
Citation: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 26(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Presents a study reviewing the 911 calls pertaining to opioid overdose in the Nogales, AZ area. Details the prehospital care received in the rural, borderland community and evaluates EMS's adherence to naloxone distribution protocol.
Author(s): Melody Glenn, Darien Stratton, Keith Primeau, Amber Rice
Citation: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 26(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Ethics for Behavioral Health Professionals in Rural Areas
Webinar recording discusses ethics in behavioral health delivery in rural areas. Provides guidance for behavioral health professionals on shaping care through ethical decision-making models and highlights topics relevant to rural communities.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
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Webinar recording discusses ethics in behavioral health delivery in rural areas. Provides guidance for behavioral health professionals on shaping care through ethical decision-making models and highlights topics relevant to rural communities.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
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The Importance of Contextually Specific Support Relationships in Implementing Programs to Link People to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Treatment During Reentry from County Jails
A case study that examines an intervention that links people in county jails to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs. Analyzes 3 rural and 2 urban county jails in Kentucky and the related program implementation, reach, and sustainability.
Author(s): Margaret McGladrey, Marisa Booty, Susannah Stitzer, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice volume 13, 20
Date: 03/2025
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A case study that examines an intervention that links people in county jails to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs. Analyzes 3 rural and 2 urban county jails in Kentucky and the related program implementation, reach, and sustainability.
Author(s): Margaret McGladrey, Marisa Booty, Susannah Stitzer, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice volume 13, 20
Date: 03/2025
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Implementation Determinants of Safer Smoking Supplies in U.S. Syringe Services Programs
Examines how safer smoking supplies at syringe services programs (SSPs) can improve health outcomes among people who use drugs. Utilizes feedback from representatives of 118 SSPs and provides data on plans to implement safer smoking supplies at SSPs. Includes data on implementation phases by organizational characteristics such as U.S. region, urbanicity of areas served, including exurban/semi-rural and rural; organization type; funding sources; services offered; and more.
Author(s): William H. Eger, Angel K. Gomez, Kirstin Kielhold, Tyler S. Bartholomew, Angela R. Bazzi
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 27
Date: 03/2025
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Examines how safer smoking supplies at syringe services programs (SSPs) can improve health outcomes among people who use drugs. Utilizes feedback from representatives of 118 SSPs and provides data on plans to implement safer smoking supplies at SSPs. Includes data on implementation phases by organizational characteristics such as U.S. region, urbanicity of areas served, including exurban/semi-rural and rural; organization type; funding sources; services offered; and more.
Author(s): William H. Eger, Angel K. Gomez, Kirstin Kielhold, Tyler S. Bartholomew, Angela R. Bazzi
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 27
Date: 03/2025
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Rural–Urban Differences in Substance Use During Pregnancy
Examines perinatal substance use in rural and urban populations. Utilizes 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data to analyze 3,499 pregnant women according to rural, small urban, and large urban location, as well as by demographic variables, health status, and type of substance use.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Olivia M. Hinds, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 03/2025
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Examines perinatal substance use in rural and urban populations. Utilizes 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data to analyze 3,499 pregnant women according to rural, small urban, and large urban location, as well as by demographic variables, health status, and type of substance use.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Olivia M. Hinds, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 03/2025
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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: 8/26/2025