Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Local Health Department Approaches to Opioid Use Prevention and Response: An Environmental Scan
Summarizes the results of an environmental scan of 198 local health departments (LHDs) regarding their local opioid overdose prevention and response activities. Reports and compares statistics by governance and the size of the population the LHD serves. Discusses efforts and activities related to workforce, clinical and programmatic services, policy, communication, partnership, and data collection. Includes LHD stories from the field.
Author(s): Kamya Raja, Francis Higgins
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Summarizes the results of an environmental scan of 198 local health departments (LHDs) regarding their local opioid overdose prevention and response activities. Reports and compares statistics by governance and the size of the population the LHD serves. Discusses efforts and activities related to workforce, clinical and programmatic services, policy, communication, partnership, and data collection. Includes LHD stories from the field.
Author(s): Kamya Raja, Francis Higgins
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Team-Based Clinic Redesign of Opioid Medication Management in Primary Care: Effect on Opioid Prescribing
Study examines an opioid medication management redesign in 20 rural primary care clinics. Looks at daily opioid usage rates of long-term opioid therapy patients before and after the redesign.
Author(s): Michael L. Parchman, Robert B. Penfold, Brooke Ike, et al.
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 17(4), 319-325
Date: 07/2019
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Study examines an opioid medication management redesign in 20 rural primary care clinics. Looks at daily opioid usage rates of long-term opioid therapy patients before and after the redesign.
Author(s): Michael L. Parchman, Robert B. Penfold, Brooke Ike, et al.
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 17(4), 319-325
Date: 07/2019
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Guidance to States and School Systems on Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in Schools
Report provides guidance to school systems and state governments about mental health and substance use in schools. Highlights examples of methods to identify and address mental health issues and substance use in schools. Discusses state-level Medicaid funding for behavioral health.
Author(s): Elinore McCance-Katz, Calder Lynch
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report provides guidance to school systems and state governments about mental health and substance use in schools. Highlights examples of methods to identify and address mental health issues and substance use in schools. Discusses state-level Medicaid funding for behavioral health.
Author(s): Elinore McCance-Katz, Calder Lynch
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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The Role of Primary Care in Improving Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Rural Medicaid Enrollees with Opioid Use Disorder
Examines the utilization of primary care among rural Medicaid enrollees in rural Pennsylvania diagnosed with an opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes the relationship between primary care utilization, distance to a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) prescriber, and MAT utilization.
Author(s): Evan S. Cole, Ellen DiDomenico, Gerald Cochran, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(6), 936-943
Date: 06/2019
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Examines the utilization of primary care among rural Medicaid enrollees in rural Pennsylvania diagnosed with an opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes the relationship between primary care utilization, distance to a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) prescriber, and MAT utilization.
Author(s): Evan S. Cole, Ellen DiDomenico, Gerald Cochran, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(6), 936-943
Date: 06/2019
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Determining Spatial Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment and Emergency Medical Services in New Hampshire
Highlights a study on the effect of geospatial determinants on access to opioid use disorder treatment and emergency medical services in New Hampshire. Breaks down data by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural communities.
Author(s): Yanjia Cao, Kathleen Stewart, Eric Wish, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 101, 55-66
Date: 06/2019
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Highlights a study on the effect of geospatial determinants on access to opioid use disorder treatment and emergency medical services in New Hampshire. Breaks down data by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural communities.
Author(s): Yanjia Cao, Kathleen Stewart, Eric Wish, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 101, 55-66
Date: 06/2019
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Tailoring Crisis Response and Pre-arrest Diversion Models for Rural Communities
Outlines a guide for rural communities to develop crisis response and pre-arrest diversion programs for people with mental health or substance use disorders. Discusses the use of technology to connect law enforcement with behavioral health programs, as well as building off of current programs to address the specific needs of the community.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Outlines a guide for rural communities to develop crisis response and pre-arrest diversion programs for people with mental health or substance use disorders. Discusses the use of technology to connect law enforcement with behavioral health programs, as well as building off of current programs to address the specific needs of the community.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Characteristics of US Counties With High Opioid Overdose Mortality and Low Capacity to Deliver Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Highlights a study on opioid overdose mortality in U.S. counties that lack the capacity to treat opioid use disorder. Breaks down counties by patient demographic and geographic region, as well as by rural, metropolitan, and micropolitan status.
Author(s): Rebecca L. Haffajee, Lewei Allison Lin, Amy S. B. Bohnert, Jason E. Goldstick
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 2(6)
Date: 06/2019
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Highlights a study on opioid overdose mortality in U.S. counties that lack the capacity to treat opioid use disorder. Breaks down counties by patient demographic and geographic region, as well as by rural, metropolitan, and micropolitan status.
Author(s): Rebecca L. Haffajee, Lewei Allison Lin, Amy S. B. Bohnert, Jason E. Goldstick
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 2(6)
Date: 06/2019
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Assessment of Mortality and Smoking Rates Before and After Reduction in Community-wide Prevention Programs in Rural Maine
Results of a study comparing smoking and mortality rates in Franklin County, Maine with other Maine counties, by 5-year intervals between 1970-2015. Features statistics including demographics, mortality rates, and income data.
Author(s): Daniel K. Onion, Roderick E. Prior, N. Burgess Record
Citation: JAMA Network Open 2(6)
Date: 06/2019
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Results of a study comparing smoking and mortality rates in Franklin County, Maine with other Maine counties, by 5-year intervals between 1970-2015. Features statistics including demographics, mortality rates, and income data.
Author(s): Daniel K. Onion, Roderick E. Prior, N. Burgess Record
Citation: JAMA Network Open 2(6)
Date: 06/2019
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Rural-Urban Differences in the Decline of Adolescent Cigarette Smoking
Examines the decline in the rates of smoking for rural and urban adolescents aged 12-17. Compares the rates of decline in rural and urban areas from 2008-2010 and from 2014-2016. Bases conclusions on data drawn from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health and highlights implications of those conclusions for public health policymakers.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jennifer Dunbar Lenardson, Nathan C. Paluso, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(5), 771-773
Date: 05/2019
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Examines the decline in the rates of smoking for rural and urban adolescents aged 12-17. Compares the rates of decline in rural and urban areas from 2008-2010 and from 2014-2016. Bases conclusions on data drawn from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health and highlights implications of those conclusions for public health policymakers.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jennifer Dunbar Lenardson, Nathan C. Paluso, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(5), 771-773
Date: 05/2019
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Understanding the Public Health Consequences of Suspending a Rural Syringe Services Program: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of People Who Inject Drugs
Details a study on the public health outcomes associated with discontinuing syringe services programs (SSPs) in rural areas where people who inject drugs (PWIDs) are prevalent. Focuses on the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department in West Virginia.
Author(s): Sean T. Allen, Suzanne M. Grieb, Allison O'Rourke, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 16
Date: 05/2019
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Details a study on the public health outcomes associated with discontinuing syringe services programs (SSPs) in rural areas where people who inject drugs (PWIDs) are prevalent. Focuses on the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department in West Virginia.
Author(s): Sean T. Allen, Suzanne M. Grieb, Allison O'Rourke, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 16
Date: 05/2019
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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: 3/24/2025