Related Guides on this Topic
You may also want to see these guides on related topics: Methamphetamine, Mental
Health
Introduction
Substance abuse has long been perceived to be a problem of the inner city. However, alcohol abuse has long been a problem in rural areas and illicit drugs have infiltrated towns of every size. Today, adults and young teens in rural areas are just as likely to abuse substances as those in larger metropolitan areas. The problems may be the same, but smaller communities have limited resources to deal with the consequences of substance abuse.
In No Place to Hide: Substance Abuse in Mid-Sized Cities and Rural America, it is reported that factors contributing to substance abuse in rural America include poverty, unemployment, underemployment, and the isolation of rural areas. Substance abuse results in crime including buying and selling drugs, driving while intoxicated, and disorderly conduct, as well as poor grades in school and other serious complications.
Statistics are startling. According to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, substance abuse dependence for persons 12 years or older varied by region.
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Binge alcohol use rates were 11.5% in nonmetropolitan areas, 10.2% in small metropolitan areas, 9.3% in large metropolitan areas, and 11.9% in completely rural counties of nonmetropolitan areas.
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Illicit drug use in completely rural counties had declined between 2002
and 2003, from 6.7 to 3.1%, but then increased to 5.1% in 2005.
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Underage current alcohol use rates were 29.5% in small metropolitan areas, 27.6% in large metropolitan areas, 27.9% in nonmetropolitan areas, and 23.1% in nonmetropolitan rural areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
Antidrug.com
Web site
Part of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Provides information on drug prevention for parents, faith-based groups, teachers, and community involvement.
CMHS Mental Health Services Locator
Web site
Provides comprehensive information about mental health services, substance abuse treatment programs and resources nationwide for professionals, consumers and their families, and the public.
CMHS Mental Health Services Locator
Web site
Provides comprehensive information about mental health services and resources for professionals, consumers and their families, and the public.
Communities That Care
Web site
A substance abuse prevention planning system for use by States and communities to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse before it starts. CTC models a community-wide approach to prevention that also enables communities to select the right substance use prevention program for their needs in preventing substance abuse problems.
Impaired Driving
Web site
Impaired driving prevention information for employers from the Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace program.
Join Together
Database
Focuses on alcohol and drug policy, prevention and treatment. Provides articles and news summaries relating to rural meth.
Monitoring the Future
Web site
An ongoing study which surveys 50,000 8th, 10th and 12th grade students each year. Studies behaviors, attitudes, and values of American secondary school students, college students, and young adults.
National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Call Center
Web site
Provides accurate information about alcohol and drug abuse at no charge. Hotline Call Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-784-6776.
National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
Web site
Searchable database of interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders. Includes option to focus on interventions used in a rural or frontier setting.
National Substance Abuse Index
Web site
Provides a centralized, comprehensive, and easy-to-use directory for resources related to dealing with addiction. Provides drug climate information for each state.
Office of Applied Studies
Database
Provides the latest national data on alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drug abuse; drug related emergency department episodes and medical examiner cases; and the nation's substance abuse treatment system.
Partners for Recovery
Web site
Facilitates communication and resource-sharing for organizations and groups that help individuals and families achieve and maintain recovery. Seeks to improve services and systems of care.
Prevline: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Web site
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-729-6686. Staffs both English and Spanish speaking information specialists who can recommend publications, posters, and videocassettes; conduct customized searches; provide grant and funding information; and refer people to appropriate organizations.
Radar Network
Web site
Provides the largest substance abuse prevention and treatment network of its kind, offers free membership and provides an organized way for States to connect with one another and with national agencies.
Recovery Month
Web site
Provides a public education effort which brings more awareness of substance abuse treatment issues to communities. Consists of resources, publications, news, events, and more.
Resources for Returning Veterans and Their Families
Web site
Provides information for returning veterans on accessing mental health and substance abuse services and for military families on coping with trauma.
Rural Health Research: Substance Abuse
Web site
Provides summaries of current and completed rural health research projects and related publications addressing the topic of substance abuse, produced by the Office of Rural Health Policy's funded rural health research centers.
State and Local Resources
Web site
Provides state and local profiles, contacts, and resources. Includes drug use statistics and drug prevention efforts for each state.
State Profiles of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Medicaid
Web site
Consists of a summary of each states' coverage of behavioral health in Medicaid and in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
Database
Locates drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs in each state as well as state substance abuse agencies.
Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents
2007 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Examines three key topics in health and human services and their effects in rural areas: Medicare Advantage in Rural Communities, Head Start in Rural Communities, and Substance Abuse in Rural America. Includes recommendations to address these topics.
Date: 01 / 2007
Academic Performance and Substance Abuse Among Students Aged 12 to 17: 2002, 2003, and 2004
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Examines the differences in self-reported academic performance (i.e., average grades in the last semester or grading period) among students aged 12 to 17 by gender, age, and substance use.
Date: 2006
Alcohol and Development in Youth - A Multidisciplinary Approach
Sponsoring organization: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
An entire volume of Alcohol, Research and Health is devoted to the topic of alcohol and substance abuse, particularly in youth.
Date: 2004
Alcohol Use Among Youth
Author(s): Andrew R. Sommers, Ramya Sundararaman
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
Describes the extent of underage alcohol use, recent legislative activity on this issue, and various policy implications.
Date: 04 / 2007
Cities Without Drugs: The Major Cities Guide to Reducing Substance Abuse in Your Community
Sponsoring organization: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
Discusses the Major Cities Initiative, a program which promotes and energizes partnerships among those working to stop drug abuse in America's cities. Recognizes that large or small, urban or rural, communities throughout America confront many of the same threats.
Date: 11 / 2005
Depression and the Initiation of Alcohol and Other Drug Use among Youths Aged 12 to 17
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Provides discussion and statistics regarding the association between mental health disorders and substance use disorders among youth.
Date: 05 / 2007
Distance to Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities among Those with Alcohol Dependence or Abuse
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Analyzes the distance between the location of substance abuse treatment facilities and the location of those who could benefit from alcohol treatment.
Date: 08 / 2002
Early Alcohol Use, Rural Residence, and Adulthood Employment
Author(s): Michael Mink, Jong-Yi Wang, Kevin J. Bennett, Charity G. Moore, M. Paige Powell, Janice C. Probst
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
This is the executive summary of the report. Early onset of alcohol consumption may increase the risk of physical disease and psychological disorders. The relationship between alcohol consumption during youth/early adulthood and subsequent employment is not fully known. With fewer opportunities for corrective intervention, the consequences of abusive drinking during youth or young adulthood may be greater for rural residents.
Date: 10 / 2005
Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States, 1992-2002
Sponsoring organization: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
Addresses the consequences of using illicit drugs, as well as societal costs pertaining to the enforcement of drug laws. Includes statistics and data.
Date: 12 / 2004
Gender, Occupational, and Socioeconomic Correlates of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Among U.S. Rural, Metropolitan, and Urban Residents
Author(s): Chamberlain C. Diala, Carles Muntaner, Christine Walrath
Analyzed the use among rural, urban, and metropolitan residents' use of alcohol and drugs.
Journal citation: American Journal of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages: 409-428
Date: 05 / 2004
Generation RX: National Study Reveals New Category of Substance Abuse Emerging: Teens Abusing Rx and OTC Medications Intentionally to Get High
Sponsoring organization: Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Results of the 2004 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) which reports that an alarming number of teenagers are abusing a variety of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications to get high.
Date: 04 / 2005
Girls and Drugs
Sponsoring organization: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
Discusses a number of findings which have shown that adolescent females display unique vulnerabilities that can lead to substance use. Provides research which reveals that drug abuse has a more profound impact on teen girls, both physically and psychologically.
Date: 02 / 2006
Impaired Driving Prevention in Rural Communities
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
Profiles health departments in rural jurisdictions working to combat the problem of impaired driving, their approaches to addressing impaired driving, successes they have achieved, and the obstacles they have encountered during program implementation.
Date: 08 / 2007
Monitoring the Future: National Results on Adolescent Drug Use Overview of Key Findings 2006
Sponsoring organization: National Institutes of Health
Results of the national survey which interviews 50,000 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in over 400 secondary schools nationwide. Highlights recent trends in the use of licit and illicit drugs, as well as trends in the levels of perceived risk and personal disapproval associated with each drug.
Date: 05 / 2007
National Drug Threat Assessment 2007
Sponsoring organization: National Drug Intelligence Center
Addresses the status and outlook of the drug threat to the United States. Covers the trafficking and abuse patterns associated with cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, MDMA, pharmaceutical drugs, and other dangerous drugs.
Date: 10 / 2006
National Rural Alcohol and Drug Abuse Network Awards for Excellence 2004: Submitted and Award-Winning Papers
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Describes effective and innovative models of substance abuse treatment and prevention services in rural populations. Includes seven papers submitted to the 2004 National Rural Alcohol and Drug Abuse Network (NRADAN) Awards for Excellence.
Date: 2006
No Place to Hide: Substance Abuse in Mid-Sized Cities and Rural America
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Conference of Mayors
As assessment and comparison of the incidence of substance abuse and addiction between metropolitan and rural areas.
Date: 01 / 2000
NSDUH Report: Parent Awareness of Youth Use of Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Marijuana
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Presents data from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health which indicates that 17%of youths aged 12 to 17 used cigarettes in the past year, 32.9 % used alcohol, and 13.2% used marijuana.
Date: 04 / 2008
Reports on Rural America: Substance Abuse in Rural and Small Town America
Author(s): Karen Van Gundy
Sponsoring organization: Carsey Institute
Draws on existing knowledge and uses data from a nationally representative data source to understand patterns of substance abuse, including methamphetamine abuse, in rural America.
Date: 2006
Results from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Presents the first information from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United
States aged 12 years old or older. Presents national estimates of rates of use, numbers of users, and other measures related to illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products. Measures related to mental health problems also are presented, including data on depression and on the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health problems.
Date: 09 / 2006
Rural Healthy People 2010: Substance Abuse - Trends in Rural Areas
Author(s): Linnae Hutchison, Craig Blakely
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Addresses rural health issues associated
with the Healthy People 2010 focus area on
substance abuse.
Date: 2003
Rural Healthy People 2010: Substance Abuse - Trends in Rural Areas: A Literature Review
Author(s): Linnae Hutchison, Craig Blakely
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Detailed literature review of rural health issues associated with the Healthy People 2010 focus area on substance abuse.
Date: 2003
Rural Substance Abuse: State of Knowledge and Issues
Sponsoring organization: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Monograph of papers from a technical review held on April 26-27, 1994 at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Includes an overview of substance abuse issues in rural areas.
Date: 1997
Rural-Urban Difference in Health Care Benefits of Community-Based Sample of At-Risk Drinkers
Author(s): John C. Fortney, Brenda M. Booth, JoAnn E. Kirchner, Xiaotong Han
Sponsoring organization: WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research
Compares the cost-containment strategies used by health plans of insured at-risk drinkers residing in rural and urban areas.
Journal citation: Journal of Rural Health Volume 19 Issue 2
Date: 2003
State Estimates of Substance Use from the 2005-2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Presents State estimates for 23 measures of substance use or mental health problems based on the 2005 and 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs).
Date: 02 / 2008
State Mandates for Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
Author(s): Gail K. Robinson, Jerome B. Connolly, Melanie Whitter, Candy A. Magaña
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Reports on state-mandated benefits, state laws regulating mental health and addiction treatment workers, and state-recognized mental health clinicians with authority to prescribe psychotropic medications.
Date: 2007
Substance Abuse Among Rural Youth: A Little Meth and a Lot of Booze
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Research and policy brief examining substance abuse among rural youth, with rural-urban comparisons methamphetamine, oxycontin, and alcohol abuse.
Date: 06 / 2007
Substance Abuse in Rural America
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Chapter from the 2007 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues. Addresses rural access to substance abuse services, with a focus on alcohol, methamphetamine and narcotics addiction.
Date: 01 / 2007
Substance Abuse or Dependence in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Areas: 2004 Update
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Results of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health which questioned persons aged 12 or older to report on their use of alcohol and illicit drugs, as well as their symptoms of substance abuse or dependence during the past year.
Date: 10 / 2005
Substance Abuse Treatment in State Children's Health Insurance Programs
Author(s): Shelly Gehshan
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
Discusses SCHIP in the 50 states, and which states have new programs which will handle the need for alcohol and other drug abuse treatment for adolescents.
Date: 2001
Substance Use and the Risk of Suicide Among Youths
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Results of a survey focused on youth aged 12-17 and their risk for suicide and using illegal drugs.
Date: 07 / 2002
Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Attempts, Major Depressive Episode, and Substance Use among Adults
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Provides a brief overview about the relationships between suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and substance use among adults aged 18 or older who have had at least one major depressive episode (MDE) during the past year.
Date: 2006
Treatment Admissions in Rural Areas: 2003
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Compares admissions to facilities located in rural counties with admissions to facilities in urban counties.
Date: 09 / 2005
Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) Highlights - 2005: National Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Provides information on the demographic and substance abuse characteristics of the 1.9 million annual admissions to treatment for abuse of alcohol and drugs in facilities that report to individual State administrative data systems.
Date: 11 / 2006
Trends in Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Admissions to Treatment: 1993-2003
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Provides statistics and data regarding treatment admissions for primary methamphetamine/amphetamine abusers according to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). TEDS is an annual compilation of data on the demographics and substance abuse problems of those admitted to substance abuse treatment.
Date: 03 / 2006
Trends in Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions: 1993 and 2003
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Presents trend data on the demographic and substance abuse characteristics of admissions reported to TEDS for 1993 through 2003.
Date: 2006
Underage Drinking in Rural Areas
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Presents statistics and data on binge drinking in rural areas vs. non-rural areas. Discusses demographics and risk factors for alcohol use in youth.
Date: 08 / 2004
Urbanity, Rurality, and Adolescent Substance Use
Author(s): Jeremy M. Wilson, Joseph F. Donnermeyer
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
Reports results of a study of substance abuse among adolescents in a Southwestern state of the U.S. Focuses primarily on alcohol and marijuana use, with some information on other types of substance abuse. Examines whether there are differences in the association between peer
and family factors with use between youth living in rural and urban areas.
Journal citation: Criminal Justice Review Volume 31 Issue 4 Pages: 337-356
Date: 12 / 2006
Use of Marijuana and Blunts among Adolescents: 2005
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Discussion on marijuana and blunt use among youths aged 12 to 17. Data are presented by demographic and academic characteristics based on the 2005
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Date: 03 / 2007
Violence and Rural Teens: Teen Violence, Drug Use, and School-Based Prevention Services in Rural America (Executive Summary)
Author(s): Michael D. Mink, Charity G. Moore, Andy Johnson, Janice C. Probst, Amy Martin
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Describes a study which had three main purposes: (1) to explore the prevalence of violence-related
exposures and drug use among rural teens, (2) to investigate the effects of race and gender on the
risk of exposure to violence and drug use, and (3) to compare the policies and mental health care
services of rural and urban schools.
Date: 03 / 2005
Organizations
2-1-1
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Teaches kids how to recognize and resist the direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs.
National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC)
National organization
Supports a nationwide network of professionals serving drug endangered children by providing referrals to experts, updated research on topics concerning drug endangered children, and best practice information.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
Federal government
The United States' principal health statistics agency. Compiles statistical information to guide actions and policies to improve health. Part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA)
National organization
Provides research on substance abuse and addiction, works with schools, conducts surveys, provides conferences and more.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
National organization
Provides leadership in the effort to reduce alcohol-related problems by conducting and supporting research, coordinating and collaborating with other research institutes, and disseminating research findings to health care providers, researchers, policymakers, and the public.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Federal government
Provides education resources and materials on drugs of abuse, information & facts, curriculum guides, classroom tools, grants & funding, research, clinical trials, and meetings.
National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NRI)
National organization
Provides rural alcohol and drug abuse information to rural alcohol and drug abuse professionals, federal agency representatives, and nationally known institute faculty and resource persons.
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Federal government
The principal purpose of ONDCP is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control program. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences.
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS)
Federal government
Administers, coordinates, and recommends policy for improving quality and excellence of programs and activities for drug and violence prevention that promote the health and well being of students in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Nonprofit/Foundation
Consists of a coalition of communication, health, medical and educational professionals working to reduce illicit drug use and help people live healthy, drug-free lives. Provides research-based, educational campaigns, state offices, events, personal stories, articles and more.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Federal government
Works to improve the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. Part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (SAMHSA)
Federal government
Supports faith-based and community organizations that benefit people with or at risk for mental and substance abuse disorders.
United Way of America
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to improve people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. Includes contact information and links for local United Way organizations.
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Federal government
Establishes policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control program. Works to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences.
Terms & Acronyms
Addict A person who is controlled by a drug or substance.
Addiction Compulsive continued use of a drug or substance and a complete inability to stop.
Detoxification Physical withdrawal from a substance.
Substance Abuse Misuse of medications, alcohol or other illegal substances.
Success Stories
RAC Success Stories: Substance Abuse
In addition to the RAC Success Stories, SAMSHA Model Programs have been tested in communities, schools, social service organizations, and workplaces across America and have prevented or reduced substance abuse and other related high-risk behaviors.
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