Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas.
Tribally-Led Mobile Outreach: Improving Access to Harm Reduction Services in One Rural Reservation Community
Presents a study on the efficacy of a tribally-run mobile outreach service to deliver opioid harm reduction information and services. Breaks down type of services offered, the organizational reach, and population served.
Author(s): Allyson Kelley, Kellie Webb, Katherine Hirchak, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1383729
Date: 05/2024
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Presents a study on the efficacy of a tribally-run mobile outreach service to deliver opioid harm reduction information and services. Breaks down type of services offered, the organizational reach, and population served.
Author(s): Allyson Kelley, Kellie Webb, Katherine Hirchak, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1383729
Date: 05/2024
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A Look at the Latest Alcohol Death Data and Change Over the Last Decade
Describes findings from an analysis of 2012 to 2022 CDC WONDER data regarding trends in deaths caused by conditions directly attributable to alcohol consumption, also referred to as alcohol-induced deaths or alcohol deaths. Presents data on alcohol death rates in 2022 and over time by race and ethnicity, age, sex, state, and rurality. Discusses factors that may contribute to increases in alcohol deaths since 2012.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Describes findings from an analysis of 2012 to 2022 CDC WONDER data regarding trends in deaths caused by conditions directly attributable to alcohol consumption, also referred to as alcohol-induced deaths or alcohol deaths. Presents data on alcohol death rates in 2022 and over time by race and ethnicity, age, sex, state, and rurality. Discusses factors that may contribute to increases in alcohol deaths since 2012.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Housing for Rural Residents Recovering from Substance Use Disorders
Presents a study featuring a number of programs providing housing for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery in rural communities. Discusses three different case studies on programs in MN, OR, and WV. Highlights the community need, organizational structure, and key features of each program.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Ingrid Jacobson, Mariana Tuttle, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Presents a study featuring a number of programs providing housing for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery in rural communities. Discusses three different case studies on programs in MN, OR, and WV. Highlights the community need, organizational structure, and key features of each program.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Ingrid Jacobson, Mariana Tuttle, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Addressing the Spectrum of Opioid Misuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery in Rural Washington State Communities: Provider Identified Barriers and Needs
Highlights a study on provider-identified barriers to opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, and prevention in rural Washington State. Draws conclusions from survey data taken from July-September 2020 and features some discussion of COVID-19 on top of other pre-existing barriers. Breaks down data by role in healthcare workforce, work setting, and substance focus, among other factors.
Author(s): Liat S. Kriegel, Katherine Hampilos, Elizabeth Weybright, et al.
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal, 60(3), 600-607
Date: 04/2024
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Highlights a study on provider-identified barriers to opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, and prevention in rural Washington State. Draws conclusions from survey data taken from July-September 2020 and features some discussion of COVID-19 on top of other pre-existing barriers. Breaks down data by role in healthcare workforce, work setting, and substance focus, among other factors.
Author(s): Liat S. Kriegel, Katherine Hampilos, Elizabeth Weybright, et al.
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal, 60(3), 600-607
Date: 04/2024
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Primary Care Providers' Experiences Treating Opioid Use Disorder Using Telehealth in the Height of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents a study of the experiences of primary care providers who used telehealth for opioid use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Draws on the insights of participants from rural and urban counties in Kentucky and Arkansas and compares the experiences of rural and urban providers.
Author(s): Sarah Alexandra Marshall, Lachan E. Siebenmorgen, Nickolas Zaller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 15
Date: 04/2024
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Presents a study of the experiences of primary care providers who used telehealth for opioid use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Draws on the insights of participants from rural and urban counties in Kentucky and Arkansas and compares the experiences of rural and urban providers.
Author(s): Sarah Alexandra Marshall, Lachan E. Siebenmorgen, Nickolas Zaller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 15
Date: 04/2024
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Implementing Harm Reduction Initiatives in Rural Communities
Webinar recording discusses substance use harm reduction, such as safe syringe services. Features a discussion of Project Hope in Menominee, WI and highlights it's successes and challenges in establishing community buy-in and financial sustainability, among other topics.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Author(s): Eric Atkinson
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Mountain Plains ATTC)
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Webinar recording discusses substance use harm reduction, such as safe syringe services. Features a discussion of Project Hope in Menominee, WI and highlights it's successes and challenges in establishing community buy-in and financial sustainability, among other topics.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Author(s): Eric Atkinson
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Mountain Plains ATTC)
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NCHS Rapid Surveys System: Illegal Drugs and Naloxone (Narcan) Awareness
Interactive data showing awareness of and perspectives on access to prescription medication, illegal drugs, and naloxone. Includes data breakdown by urbanicity and other demographic and geographic characteristics. Data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics between October and November 2023.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Interactive data showing awareness of and perspectives on access to prescription medication, illegal drugs, and naloxone. Includes data breakdown by urbanicity and other demographic and geographic characteristics. Data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics between October and November 2023.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Rural Mental Health: Challenges & Opportunities
Webinar recording discusses barriers to rural mental health access and offers strategies for overcoming those barriers. Presents Kansas and Missouri as examples. Details unintentional injury fatalities in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Angie Schindler-Berg
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
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Webinar recording discusses barriers to rural mental health access and offers strategies for overcoming those barriers. Presents Kansas and Missouri as examples. Details unintentional injury fatalities in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Angie Schindler-Berg
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
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National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Report highlights the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) 10-year government-wide suicide prevention strategy. Features a 15-goal plan covering community-based suicide prevention; treatment and crisis services; surveillance, quality improvement, and research; and health equity in suicide prevention. Discusses rural populations and the barriers to suicide prevention in rural areas.
Additional links: Federal Action Plan
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Report highlights the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) 10-year government-wide suicide prevention strategy. Features a 15-goal plan covering community-based suicide prevention; treatment and crisis services; surveillance, quality improvement, and research; and health equity in suicide prevention. Discusses rural populations and the barriers to suicide prevention in rural areas.
Additional links: Federal Action Plan
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Motivation and Context of Concurrent Stimulant and Opioid Use Among Persons Who Use Drugs in the Rural United States: A Multi-Site Qualitative Inquiry
Explores the motivation and context of stimulant and opioid use in rural America among persons who use drugs (PWUD). Utilizes participant interviews to discuss general substance use, injection drug use, changes in drug use, harm reduction practices, and more.
Author(s): R. J. Fredericksen, R. Baker, A. Sibley, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 74
Date: 04/2024
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Explores the motivation and context of stimulant and opioid use in rural America among persons who use drugs (PWUD). Utilizes participant interviews to discuss general substance use, injection drug use, changes in drug use, harm reduction practices, and more.
Author(s): R. J. Fredericksen, R. Baker, A. Sibley, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 74
Date: 04/2024
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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: 4/28/2025