Substance Use and Misuse in Rural Areas – Resources

Rural Communities in Crisis: A Critical Count to Save Lives During the Opioid Epidemic
A method rural communities can use to estimate the size and characteristics of the population who inject drugs. Includes a toolkit describing the approach and an online calculation tool that can be used to estimate service needs in a community related to the opioid crisis.
Additional links: Calculation Tool, Toolkit: Applying Population Estimation Methods in Rural America
Sponsoring organization: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model
Overview of a CMS initiative focused on the care of pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD) through state-driven transformation of the delivery system. Supports coordination of clinical care and integration of other services critical for health, well-being, and recovery.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States
Interactive map highlighting state- and county-level drug overdose death data, including opioid overdose deaths, in the United States. Data can be examined by selected demographic, economic, and behavioral health factors for 3 time periods: 2010-2013, 2014-2017, or 2018-2021.
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, NORC at the University of Chicago, U.S. Department of Justice
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Opioid Epidemic Practical Toolkit: Helping Faith and Community Leaders Bring Hope and Healing to Our Communities
Provides practical steps that community and faith-based organizations can take to help address the opioid crisis. Includes information on awareness, prevention, and recovery support. Also covers community capacity building, collaboration, and federal resources.
Sponsoring organization: HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (The Partnership Center)
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Opioid Stewardship in the Indian Health Service
Discusses the use of prescription opioids and outlines proper pain management for Indian Health Services (IHS) patients and providers. Features resources and videos for providers and tribal communities in the areas of crisis data and response, medication assisted treatment (MAT) and Tele-MAT, a Naloxone training toolkit, prevention, maternal/child health, and pain management.
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Rural Opioid Educational Resources
A comprehensive list of National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health resources addressing the opioid crisis. Includes reports, webinar recordings, promising practices, training materials, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) resources. Also offers customizable posters, flyers, brochures, and more.
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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HRSA: Opioid Crisis
Features information, resources, and opportunities related to addressing the opioid crisis. Details HRSA's efforts to help combat opioid abuse, including the sharing of best practices, increasing education and training, and expanding access through health centers and the use of telehealth, among other interventions.
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Opioid Use Disorder: Rural Policy Brief
Policy brief focused on preventing rural opioid overdoses and reducing overdose deaths in rural areas. Identifies policy options and strategies including evidence-based prescribing methods, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and overdose reversing medication. Includes three brief case studies.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Drug Overdose Deaths in Appalachia
Interactive map highlights drug overdose deaths in Appalachia by county. Features demographic information such as race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and disability status, as well as economic factors such as poverty rate, unemployment rate, and accident-prone employment, among others. Choose the Appalachian Overdose Mapping Tool button when prompted to choose a tool.
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Trends in Opioid-Related Hospitalizations
Presents data on opioid-related hospitalizations for 2009-2014 and 2016. Includes national and state-level data by patient location for metropolitan and rural areas.
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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