The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development unveiled a listing of federal programs that can be used to build resilient communities and address opioid misuse in rural communities.
The Rural Resource Guide to Help Communities Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse is a first-of-its-kind, one-stop-shop for rural leaders looking for Federal funding and partnership opportunities.
More than 300,000 Americans have died from overdoses involving opioids since 2000. The impact of opioid misuse on the quality of life and economic prosperity can be enormous in rural communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in October 2017 that death rates from drug overdoses in rural areas have now surpassed drug overdose death rates in urban areas.
The Rural Resource Guide to Help Communities Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse was developed by the Rural Opioid Federal Interagency Working Group. In May 2018, the ONDCP organized the Rural Opioid Federal Interagency Working Group to help address the opioid crisis by improving coordination and reducing potential overlap among federal agencies responding to the crisis in the Nation’s rural communities.
Earlier this month, USDA launched the Community Assessment Tool, an interactive database to help community leaders assess how and why the opioid epidemic is impacting their regions. USDA’s Community Opioid Misuse Toolbox is free and available to the public. It can be accessed on USDA’s Rural Opioid Misuse Webpage.
The Great Plains QIN is partnering with providers, pharmacists and stakeholders to address the opioid crisis across our region. Many tools, resources, and links are provided on our Medication Safety webpage under the “Opioids” tab.