In America, 15% of people live in a rural area. Death rates for unintentional injuries like drug overdoses, falls, and motor vehicle crashes are around 50% higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In general, people who live in rural areas of the United States tend to be older, poorer, and sicker than those living in urban areas. Differences in socio-economic factors, health behaviors, and access to health care services contribute to these differences. From 1999 to 2015, the opioid death rates in rural areas have quadrupled among those 18-25 years old and tripled for females.
The rate of drug overdose deaths in rural areas has surpassed rates in urban areas, and it is a huge public health concern. Understanding how rural areas are different when it comes to drug use and drug overdose deaths, including opioids, can help public health professionals identify, monitor, and prioritize their response to this epidemic.
Overdose deaths can be prevented through improved public health programs. We can start addressing the opioid overdose epidemic and save lives by:
Understanding the differences in burden and context of drug use, drug use disorders, and fatal overdose, and identifying how to tailor prevention efforts to local situations between rural and urban areas.
Teaching healthcare providers about safer opioid prescribing practices and how to treat patients with opioid use disorder (addiction).
Considering non-opioid pain treatment options, like exercise and physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or more effective pain medicines (like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen). Some of these options may actually work better and have fewer risks and side effects than opioids.
Supporting training and access to naloxone, a medication that can quickly stop an opioid overdose, for high-risk individuals, families, emergency responders, and law enforcement.
Increasing access to treatment for opioid use disorder (addiction) through medication-assisted treatment or comprehensive services to reduce infections from injection drug use, like HIV or Hepatitis C.
Working with public safety to share data, scale up evidence-based strategies, and decrease the illicit drug supply.
Comments