The International journal on drug policy
-
Int. J. Drug Policy · Jul 2018
Opioid-related mortality in rural America: Geographic heterogeneity and intervention strategies.
Over the last two decades, opioid-related mortality rates have increased dramatically to become a serious public health concern in the United States. Opioid-related mortality has reached epidemic levels in certain rural areas of the U. S., such as Appalachia, New England, and the Mountain West, while remaining relatively low in others, such as the Delta South and Great Plains. ⋯ This paper 1) describes geographic heterogeneity in opioid-related mortality, with a focus on rural areas, 2) summarizes factors that likely contribute to this heterogeneity, and 3) discusses potential strategies for addressing the opioid epidemic in the hardest-hit rural communities. The information presented in this paper dispels the myth that the opioid epidemic is disproportionately rural, and demonstrates that the magnitude of the epidemic has varied considerably across different rural areas. This paper provides important insights for public health professionals, treatment practitioners, researchers, and policymakers as they work toward solutions that take into account the diversity of rural communities and the dynamic nature of the opioid epidemic.