Identifying SUD Bias and Addressing Stigma in the Clinical Setting

This presentation outlines practical approaches to identifying personal bias and addressing stigma in the clinical care setting.

Telehealth for Substance Use Disorders and Considerations for Rural Regions

This presentation focuses on optimizing patient and clinician experiences with different telehealth platforms, practical guidelines for providing substance use treatment virtually in rural communities, and regulatory considerations.

Peer Recovery as an Evidence-Based Practice: From Science to Impact

The presentation focuses on how peer recovery models of care can help rural recovery communities from three perspectives. Dr. Kelly explains his research from the Recovery Research Institute on peer recovery centers, and reviews the evidence behind how these centers support and encourage long-term recovery. Dr. Depman addresses strategies, benefits, and challenges incorporating peer recovery models of care into that setting for OUD and AUD, based on his experience utilizing peer recovery coaches in the Emergency Department (ED) at Central Vermont Medical Center, a community hospital serving a rural population. Liza Ryan–a certified peer recovery coach in rural Lamoille County, VT, and a person in recovery for over 7 years–explains how her work is affected by serving a rural community.

Cannabis Use and Cannabis Addiction in Rural Populations: Phenomenology, Intervention, Policy

This presentation focuses on enhancing rural providers’ knowledge related to (a) the changing landscape of cannabis products and availability, (b) the potential to develop problems from cannabis use, (c) treatment models for helping those with cannabis problems in rural communities, and (d) the importance of communication for prevention, intervention, and public health in rural settings.

Social Determinants of Mental Health and Substance Use

This presentation introduces key concepts related to the social and structural determinants of health (SDOH), and how they apply to substance use disorders, with a particular focus on implications for rural communities.

Pregnancy, Parenting, And Substance Use: Stigma, Fear and a Call for Improved Messaging to our Families

This presentation covers unique barriers that people with opioid use disorder face when pregnant and parenting.

Practitioner and Stakeholder Perspectives on Opioid Use and Treatment Across Rural Northern New England

This presentation explores data from UVM CORA’s Baseline Needs Assessments in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, sharing insights gathered from practitioners and stakeholders about their concerns about opioid use and their perceived barriers to and beliefs about opioid use disorder treatment.

Improving Prevention and Care Outcomes for LGBTQ People: Safer Spaces and Better Data Collection

This article describes key points in a presentation given by Dr. Blosnich (Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for LGBTQ+ Health Equity at the University of Southern California’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work). Dr. Blosnich discussed “how LGBTQ people with SUD contend not just with stigma related to SUD, but with stigma related to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), which can be unintentionally yet overtly part of the health care experience in rural areas.”

Growing a Competent Workforce in a Rural State: The University of Kentucky Bell Addiction Medicine Scholar Program

This presentation explores the importance of treatment and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) along the continuum of care in rural communities. It also outlines a training program taking place at University of Kentucky (UK) for physicians who are in a position to treat patients and educate future physicians.

What Agencies and Providers Are Saying About the Dangers of Xylazine

“Federal and state agencies, local health departments, and health care providers across the country have become increasingly concerned about the rise of xylazine, an adulterant often found in combination with fentanyl and also mixed with heroin, stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, and other substances.” This article discusses the effects of xylazine, why it poses a danger, as well as distribution patterns, approaches to testing for xylazine, and strategies to address its presence in the illicit drug supply.