Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Peer Support Specialists Care for and Connect Rural Behavioral Health Clients
Discusses peer support specialists, trained laypeople in recovery with a mental health condition or substance use disorder, and describes the roles they play as mentors and coordinators for clients with similar behavioral health issues. Features peer support specialist programs in rural Arizona, Michigan, and North Dakota.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses peer support specialists, trained laypeople in recovery with a mental health condition or substance use disorder, and describes the roles they play as mentors and coordinators for clients with similar behavioral health issues. Features peer support specialist programs in rural Arizona, Michigan, and North Dakota.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (P.L.115-271): Medicare Provisions
Provides a section-by-section description of Medicare provisions in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). Addresses rural in two sections: Section 6083 seeks to expand access to addiction treatment in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics by paying for training costs to obtain a DATA waiver to furnish OUD treatment; Section 6042 authorizes a demonstration project testing expanded access to MAT drugs through teams with a primary care provider.
Date: 01/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides a section-by-section description of Medicare provisions in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). Addresses rural in two sections: Section 6083 seeks to expand access to addiction treatment in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics by paying for training costs to obtain a DATA waiver to furnish OUD treatment; Section 6042 authorizes a demonstration project testing expanded access to MAT drugs through teams with a primary care provider.
Date: 01/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Designed Cultural Adaptation and Delivery Quality in Rural Substance Use Prevention: An Effectiveness Trial for the Keepin' it REAL Curriculum
Examines the effectiveness of two versions – one urban and one rural - of a culturally adapted evidence-based middle school substance use prevention curriculum on adolescents. Data collected included adolescent self-reported substance use, and ratings of quality in delivery analyzed from video recordings of lessons presented.
Author(s): Michael L. Hecht, YoungJu Shin, Jonathan Pettigrew, Michelle Miller-Day, Janice L. Krieger
Citation: Prevention Science 19(8), 1008-1018
Date: 11/2018
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Examines the effectiveness of two versions – one urban and one rural - of a culturally adapted evidence-based middle school substance use prevention curriculum on adolescents. Data collected included adolescent self-reported substance use, and ratings of quality in delivery analyzed from video recordings of lessons presented.
Author(s): Michael L. Hecht, YoungJu Shin, Jonathan Pettigrew, Michelle Miller-Day, Janice L. Krieger
Citation: Prevention Science 19(8), 1008-1018
Date: 11/2018
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Responding to the HIV Crisis in Scott County, Indiana: Q&A with Dr. William Cooke
An interview with Dr. William Cooke, the only physician in Austin, Indiana at the time of the country's largest rural HIV outbreak. Highlights the work of Dr. Cooke and his staff to help address HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid/substance use disorder in the community.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An interview with Dr. William Cooke, the only physician in Austin, Indiana at the time of the country's largest rural HIV outbreak. Highlights the work of Dr. Cooke and his staff to help address HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid/substance use disorder in the community.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Opioid-Affected Births to Rural Residents
Examines rates of diagnosis of maternal opioid use disorder and infant neonatal abstinence syndrome for rural residents at time of childbirth. Includes statistics for delivery location with breakdowns by rural, urban non-teaching, and urban teaching hospitals.
Author(s): Katy Kozhimannil, Tongtan Chantarat, Alexandra Ecklund, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Examines rates of diagnosis of maternal opioid use disorder and infant neonatal abstinence syndrome for rural residents at time of childbirth. Includes statistics for delivery location with breakdowns by rural, urban non-teaching, and urban teaching hospitals.
Author(s): Katy Kozhimannil, Tongtan Chantarat, Alexandra Ecklund, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Health Opioid Program Funds Care Coordination Efforts for Recovery
Highlights programs funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy that provide opioid treatment and recovery care coordination. An Ohio program uses care coordination in an existing syringe exchange program and county family drug court, a Kentucky program focuses on helping prisoners, and a Montana program reaches new and expectant mothers.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights programs funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy that provide opioid treatment and recovery care coordination. An Ohio program uses care coordination in an existing syringe exchange program and county family drug court, a Kentucky program focuses on helping prisoners, and a Montana program reaches new and expectant mothers.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Entertainment-Education Videos as a Persuasive Tool in the Substance Use Prevention Intervention "keepin' it REAL"
Examines the effects of engagement by adolescents receiving a substance use prevention curriculum offering entertainment-education videos on alcohol use by youth and communication skills to refuse drug offers. Seventh grade students from two rural public schools were assigned to two versions of the keepin' it REAL prevention curriculum – one rural based and one urban based. Discusses the pre/post surveys taken by students at the beginning and the end of 7th grade.
Author(s): YoungJu Shin, Michelle Miller-Day, Michael L. Hecht, Janice L. Krieger
Citation: Health Communication, 33(7) 896-906
Date: 07/2018
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Examines the effects of engagement by adolescents receiving a substance use prevention curriculum offering entertainment-education videos on alcohol use by youth and communication skills to refuse drug offers. Seventh grade students from two rural public schools were assigned to two versions of the keepin' it REAL prevention curriculum – one rural based and one urban based. Discusses the pre/post surveys taken by students at the beginning and the end of 7th grade.
Author(s): YoungJu Shin, Michelle Miller-Day, Michael L. Hecht, Janice L. Krieger
Citation: Health Communication, 33(7) 896-906
Date: 07/2018
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2018
Provides an in-depth examination of and makes recommendations on two critical issues, the high cost of prescription drugs and the opioid epidemic, as they relate to Medicaid. The opioid section includes discussion of rural access to treatment for substance use disorder. Also discusses Medicaid's role as the nation's largest payer for long-term services and supports.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Provides an in-depth examination of and makes recommendations on two critical issues, the high cost of prescription drugs and the opioid epidemic, as they relate to Medicaid. The opioid section includes discussion of rural access to treatment for substance use disorder. Also discusses Medicaid's role as the nation's largest payer for long-term services and supports.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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SAMHSA Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit
Provides strategies for healthcare providers, communities, and local governments to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Includes facts for community members, essential steps for first responders, information for prescribers, safety advice for patients and family members, and resources for overdose survivors and their families.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Provides strategies for healthcare providers, communities, and local governments to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Includes facts for community members, essential steps for first responders, information for prescribers, safety advice for patients and family members, and resources for overdose survivors and their families.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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The Geographic Variation in the Cost of the Opioid Crisis
Presents a study on the economic costs of the opioid crisis across the nation. Features state-by-state and county-level data on the monetary burden of opioid misuse on communities.
Author(s): Alex Brill, Scott Ganz
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: American Enterprise Institute
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Presents a study on the economic costs of the opioid crisis across the nation. Features state-by-state and county-level data on the monetary burden of opioid misuse on communities.
Author(s): Alex Brill, Scott Ganz
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: American Enterprise Institute
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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: 12/2/2025

