Updates

We are using the World Café method—a flexible dialogue approach— to support honest discussion, build trust, and establish collaborative relationships with our rural community partners. Through conversation, mutual learning, and shared decision-making, we are working together on community-specific, trauma-informed approaches to reduce the risk of substance use disorder in rural youth.

This article highlights our use of the Community-Based Participatory Research model, which centers on forming meaningful relationships with rural communities through broad engagement, mutual learning, and shared decision-making. Working together, we are developing capacity for sustainable trauma-informed interventions that the community needs, wants, and can sustain with the community guiding implementation every step of the way.

In collaboration with schools, community members, and tobacco and substance use disorder treatment specialists in rural areas, we are developing educational programs and resources to address e-cigarette use (also called vaping) among adolescents. The program focuses on supporting teens in quitting e-cigarettes and supporting health care providers through a credit-bearing educational program.

There is not a “one size fits all” approach to treatment for opioid use disorder. By reducing stigma related to methadone, this project aims to make all Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for opioid use disorder available in communities.

For the Growing Resilience initiative, we are partnering with rural communities to develop trauma-informed approaches to support SUD prevention for rural youth. Learning from schools, health care providers, social service agencies, and others working with young people, we are collaborating on relevant evidence-based interventions to address the impact of trauma and reduce the risk of developing SUD.

Yara Castro, Martin Felix, and Kassandra Figueroa discussed how utilizing peer support is critical both for individuals in recovery and to strengthen coordination of care across systems.