According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury death in the United States. A recent CDC report shows a slightly higher rate of substance use disorders in rural areas compared to urban areas. Rural communities face major barriers to treatment for substance use disorders. These include limited resources and lack of transportation, as rural areas have fewer providers and facilities that serve a wider geographic area compared to urban and suburban areas. In some ways, public housing residents share those challenges. This webinar will explore federal and local efforts to address this public health crisis in rural communities and the role of Health Center Programs to address the opioid epidemic and substance use disorders in rural communities.
