Learn

Learn pages describe best practices and programs to prevent and reduce the impact of substance use and substance use disorder that have been adapted for rural communities. These pages feature resources—evidence, videos, webinars, trainings, articles, and various tools—to help rural communities select and implement practices that support their efforts and goals.

Overview of Resources and Programs

Developing a Rural Community Approach to Overcoming Stigma

The goal of Community Conversations on Opioid Use Disorder workshops is to shed light on substance use disorder-related stigma as a barrier to recovery and to collaborate with rural communities to develop local solutions that reduce it.

Green mountains with expanse of blue sky above

Behavioral Health Assessment Officers

This webinar and toolkit focus on the Behavioral Health Assessment Officer (BHAO) model to increase access to mental health and substance use disorder care in rural communities. A BHAO is a licensed behavioral health provider working in a rural emergency department, who evaluates and manages care for patients identified at screening to have behavioral health concerns.

Overcoming SUD Stigma in Rural Communities

Stigma related to substance use disorder (SUD) can create barriers to treatment. Evidence-based solutions for overcoming stigma stress the importance of contact with people who have lived experience and education about effective treatments and the potential for recovery. Our center is partnering with rural communities to apply this approach through locally hosted workshops and portraits and videos that highlight recovery.

A welcoming circle of colorful chairs in an office

‘We’re Not Alone’: Preserving Group Therapy Through Videoconferencing During COVID-19

When COVID-19 surged in March 2020, Strong Recovery suspended in-person group therapy for people with substance use disorder—the “heart and soul of our program”—and rapidly converted to video-based group therapy. This page provides comprehensive guidance on implementing online group therapy, including setup, workflows, tips for therapists, and more.

Bridging the Gap: Telemedicine as a Path to Primary Care Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder

This program uses telehealth to enable primary care providers in rural communities to offer buprenorphine medication treatment to their patients who have opioid use disorder by using telehealth to connect patients with prescribers outside of the area. It also provides support to primary care practices as they prepare to offer this care locally. This page features a webinar and tools to help rural practices build the bridge to increase local access to treatment.

Crossing Miles to Save Lives: Touchless Naloxone Delivery in Rural Communities

This webinar focuses on naloxone distribution in rural communities. It describes how to establish a program, suggests "touchless" approaches to delivery and remote training, and reviews regulatory considerations. A toolkit provides additional resources.

Making Space for Social Distance: Adapting Opioid Treatment Programs to COVID-19

This webinar reviews steps Strong Recovery took to rapidly adapt substance use disorder treatment programs during COVID-19. The page features tools and resources detailing all aspects of the transition.

2020 Overview — Creating Solutions: Recovery in the Opioid Crisis

This introductory webinar discusses evidence-based practices to address opioid use disorder that UR Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence was in the process of adapting in partnership with rural communities.