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

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.

Topics

Substance Use

State

CO
ID
MA
ME
MI
OH
VA
VT
WA
WI