Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
The Health and Economic Concerns of Rural Americans
Presentation features a discussion on the role social and economic disparities play in the health of people in rural communities. Highlights the effect the opioid crisis has had in rural areas and discusses ways communities can use local resources to combat opioid abuse. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: The Forum, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
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Presentation features a discussion on the role social and economic disparities play in the health of people in rural communities. Highlights the effect the opioid crisis has had in rural areas and discusses ways communities can use local resources to combat opioid abuse. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: The Forum, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
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Surveillance for Cancers Associated with Tobacco Use — United States, 2010–2014
Reports on tobacco-associated cancer incidence for lung, bronchial, and tracheal cancers; laryngeal cancer; oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers; esophageal cancer; stomach cancer; colon and rectal cancers; liver cancer; pancreatic cancer; kidney and renal pelvis cancers; urinary bladder cancer; cervical cancer; and acute myeloid leukemia. Includes data for metropolitan and nonmetro counties, as well as by sex, age, tumor characteristics, U.S. census region, state, and other demographics.
Author(s): M. Shayne Gallaway, S. Jane Henley, C. Brooke Steele, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 67(12), 1-42
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on tobacco-associated cancer incidence for lung, bronchial, and tracheal cancers; laryngeal cancer; oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers; esophageal cancer; stomach cancer; colon and rectal cancers; liver cancer; pancreatic cancer; kidney and renal pelvis cancers; urinary bladder cancer; cervical cancer; and acute myeloid leukemia. Includes data for metropolitan and nonmetro counties, as well as by sex, age, tumor characteristics, U.S. census region, state, and other demographics.
Author(s): M. Shayne Gallaway, S. Jane Henley, C. Brooke Steele, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 67(12), 1-42
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Opioid Crisis and Economic Opportunity: Geographic and Economic Trends
Features a study on the relationship between economic opportunity and opioid use. Explores the correlation between poverty and opioid prescriptions, hospitalizations, and overdose rates. Features several nationwide maps of county-level data.
Author(s): Robin Ghertner, Lincoln Groves
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Features a study on the relationship between economic opportunity and opioid use. Explores the correlation between poverty and opioid prescriptions, hospitalizations, and overdose rates. Features several nationwide maps of county-level data.
Author(s): Robin Ghertner, Lincoln Groves
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Opioid Prescribing Rates by Congressional Districts, United States, 2016
Details a study on opioid prescribing rates by U.S. congressional districts. Compares congressional district rates with state-level rates and highlights rates among in rural areas, specific regions, and by other variables.
Author(s): Lyndsey A. Rolheiser, Jack Cordes, S.V. Subramanian
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 108(9), 1214–1219
Date: 09/2018
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Details a study on opioid prescribing rates by U.S. congressional districts. Compares congressional district rates with state-level rates and highlights rates among in rural areas, specific regions, and by other variables.
Author(s): Lyndsey A. Rolheiser, Jack Cordes, S.V. Subramanian
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 108(9), 1214–1219
Date: 09/2018
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Opioid Crisis: Status of Public Health Emergency Authorities
Examines the effectiveness of public health emergency authorities' response to the opioid crisis. Discusses the different public health emergency authorities selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the activities underway to combat the opioid crisis.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the effectiveness of public health emergency authorities' response to the opioid crisis. Discusses the different public health emergency authorities selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the activities underway to combat the opioid crisis.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Changing Dynamics of the Drug Overdose Epidemic in the United States from 1979 Through 2016
Features a study on the changes in overdose mortality across the U.S. between 1979-2016. Aims to shed light on the current opioid crisis by placing it within a broader data set incorporating all illicit drug overdose deaths in a longer time frame. Details the specific changes in drug overdose mortality in rural areas.
Author(s): Hawre Jalal, Jeanine M. Buchanich, Mark S. Roberts, et al.
Citation: Science, 361(6408)
Date: 09/2018
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Features a study on the changes in overdose mortality across the U.S. between 1979-2016. Aims to shed light on the current opioid crisis by placing it within a broader data set incorporating all illicit drug overdose deaths in a longer time frame. Details the specific changes in drug overdose mortality in rural areas.
Author(s): Hawre Jalal, Jeanine M. Buchanich, Mark S. Roberts, et al.
Citation: Science, 361(6408)
Date: 09/2018
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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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Addiction and Substance Misuse Reports and Publications
Provides data on prevalence of substance use, and opioid misuse, use disorders, overdoses, and related topics. Includes discussion of prevention programs and screening.
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Provides data on prevalence of substance use, and opioid misuse, use disorders, overdoses, and related topics. Includes discussion of prevention programs and screening.
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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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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Trajectory Classes of Cannabis Use and Heavy Drinking among Rural African American Adolescents: Multilevel Predictors of Class Membership
Presents a study on cannabis and alcohol use among African American youth in rural Georgia. Features data assessments over nine years beginning when the participants are 16 and ending when they are 25 and looks a perceived stress and other psychological risk factors.
Author(s): Allen W. Barton, Gene. H. Brody, Tamika C. B. Zapolski, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 113(8), 1439-1449
Date: 08/2018
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Presents a study on cannabis and alcohol use among African American youth in rural Georgia. Features data assessments over nine years beginning when the participants are 16 and ending when they are 25 and looks a perceived stress and other psychological risk factors.
Author(s): Allen W. Barton, Gene. H. Brody, Tamika C. B. Zapolski, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 113(8), 1439-1449
Date: 08/2018
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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: 9/18/2025