Maine Baseline Needs Assessment: Rural Practioners and Stakeholders Data Brief

University of Vermont, Center on Rural Addiction
M. Lindsey Smith PhD, University of Southern Maine, Cutler Institute
Karen Pearson MLIS, MA, University of Southern Maine, Cutler Institute
Julia Shaw MPH, University of Vermont
Valerie Harder PhD, MHS, The Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Nathaniel Schafrick, University of Vermont
Caitlin McCluskey, University of Vermont

The mission of the University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction (UVM CORA) is to expand addiction treatment capacity in rural counties in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, northern New York, and throughout the country by providing consultation, resources, training, and evidence-based technical assistance to healthcare providers and staff.

Please visit uvmcora.org to find more information about our baseline needs assessments in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and northern New York, as well as resources and technical assistance on substance use disorder treatment.

Abstract

This data brief provides findings from the Maine baseline needs assessment, conducted in collaboration with the research staff at the University of Southern Maine's Cutler Institute, and aimed to identify current and future substance use disorder (SUD) treatment needs and barriers in rural Maine counties. From April 2021 to June 2021, we surveyed rural practitioners and community stakeholders working across Maine using an online survey. Respondents included 173 practitioners and 142 community stakeholders working in areas designated as rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Practitioner respondents were primarily nurse practitioners (34%) and primary care physicians (32%). Most community stakeholder respondents worked in fire department/emergency medical services (33%) and school settings (29%).

Please see additional Data briefs on the CORA website under Resources (https://uvmcora.org/resources/) in the subsection Data Reports.