Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources

Vital Signs: Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Opioid Overdoses — United States, July 2016-September 2017
Reports on changes in opioid overdoses seen in emergency departments (EDs) by region, state, and urbanization level. Addresses the need for real-time data to coordinate responses to outbreaks and the role ED data can play. Discusses how ED physicians and staff can help address future overdoses among ED patients. Figure 2 shows quarterly suspected opioid overdose data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties.
Author(s): Alana M. Vivolo-Kantor, Puja Seth, R. Matthew Gladden, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(9), 279-285
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Opioid Crisis: The Role of Technology and Data in Preventing and Treating Addiction
Highlights the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on the use of data and technology interventions in combating the opioid epidemic. Features testimony from representatives of Express Scripts, the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, the Santa Clara University Public Health Program, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Date: 02/2018
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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The Opioid Crisis: Impact on Children and Families
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on the opioid crisis's effect on children and families. Features testimony from representatives of the 525 Foundation, Casey Family Programs, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Date: 02/2018
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Scaling up HCV Prevention and Treatment Interventions in Rural USA – Model Projections for Tackling an Increasing Epidemic
Highlights a study on the rise in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in rural people who inject drugs (PWID) and the necessary interventions to reduce HCV outbreaks in rural communities. Focuses on a rural county in Indiana and evaluates the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) efficacy, syringe-services program (SSP) efficacy, and the PWID population size of the intervention, among other factors.
Author(s): Hannah Fraser, Jon Zibbell, Thomas Hoerger, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 113(1), 173-182
Date: 01/2018
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Rural Health Research Recap: Opioid Use and Treatment Availability
Summarizes key findings from the Rural Health Research Centers' most recent research on opioid use and treatment. Focuses on research related to opioid use in rural communities, treatment for opioid use disorder, perceived need and use of treatment, and rural community response. Provides links to each of the referenced source documents.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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The Opioid Crisis: An Examination of How We Got Here and How We Move Forward
Presents the full U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on the opioid crisis, featuring a testimony from Sam Quinones, journalist and author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opioid Epidemic.
Additional links: Written Testimony
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Perceived Treatment Need and Utilization for Illicit Drug and Opioid Use Disorders in Non-Metropolitan Areas
Gives estimates of perceived need and use of treatment for illicit drug and prescription pain reliever use disorders in 2008-2010, 2011-2013, and 2014-2015 among people ages 18-64. Includes statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural locations and by opioid, heroin, prescription drug, or any drug use disorder.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Hefei Wen
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Illicit Drug and Opioid Use Disorders among Non-Metropolitan Residents
Provides estimates of metropolitan and non-metropolitan past year drug use disorder rates among people ages 18-64 and temporal changes in past year drug use disorder prevalence rates. Includes statistics with metropolitan and non-metropolitan breakdowns for any drug, opioid, heroin, and prescription pain reliever use disorder.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Hefei Wen
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Impact of Presence of Children on Indoor Tobacco Restrictions in Households of Urban and Rural Adult Tobacco Users
Highlights a study on indoor tobacco use around children among rural and urban tobacco users in Ohio. Breaks down data by the tobacco users age and sex, as well as number of children in the household, among other factors.
Author(s): Benjamin T. Kopp, Alice Hinton, Rong Lu, et al.
Citation: Academic Pediatrics, 18(8), 920-927
Date: 2018
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Evidence-Based Strategies for Preventing Opioid Overdose: What's Working in the United States
Guide for community leaders, public health, law enforcement, and others working to address the opioid crisis in their community. Identifies evidence-based practices that have been successfully implemented in the U.S. and are effective in reducing rates of opioid overdose. Includes strategies focused on naloxone distribution, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), addressing opioid use in criminal justice settings, syringe services, and more.
Author(s): Jennifer J. Carroll, Traci C. Green, Rita K. Noonan
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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