Addressing Opioid Use in Rural Communities: Examples from Critical Access Hospitals

Authors

John A. Gale MS, University of Southern Maine, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Sara Kahn-Troster MPH, University of Southern Maine, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Karen B. Pearson MLIS, MA, University of Southern Maine, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Nathan First LCSW, MSW, MA, University of Southern Maine

Document Type

Briefing Paper

Publication Date

8-1-2020

Keywords

MRHRC, behavioral health, substance use disorder, rural, Critical Access Hospitals, rural hospitals (Flex Program), Flex Monitoring Team

Abstract

The opioid epidemic continues to have a devastating impact in rural areas disproportionately affected by a lack of infrastructure to provide treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs). Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), often the hubs of local systems of care, can play an important role in addressing OUDs. Using a substance use framework developed for the Flex Monitoring Team’s earlier study of CAH substance use strategies, this brief highlights strategies adopted by CAHs to combat opioid use in their communities. It also identifies resources that State Flex Programs can use to support CAHs with this challenging population health issue.

Comments

FMI: Contact John Gale, john.gale@maine.edu

This study was conducted by the Flex Monitoring Team with funding from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under PHS Grant No. U27RH01080

Funding Organization

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, HRSA

Grant Number

U27RH01080

Recommended Citation

Gale J, Kahn-Troster S, Pearson K, First N. Addressing Opioid Use in Rural Communities: Examples from Critical Access Hospitals. University of Southern Maine, Flex Monitoring Team;2020. Briefing Paper #46. https://www.flexmonitoring.org/sites/flexmonitoring.umn.edu/files/media/fmt-bp-46-2020.pdf