Current Rural Drug Use in the US Midwest

Authors

Kirk Dombrowski, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Devan M. Crawford, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bilal Khan, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kimberly A. Tyler, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Dombrowski K, Crawford D, Khan B, et al. Current Rural Drug Use in the US Midwest. J Drug Abuse. 2016, 2:3.
DOI: 10.21767/2471-853X.100031

Comments

© Under License of Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License

Abstract

The nature and challenge of illicit drug use in the United States continues to change rapidly, evolving in reaction to myriad social, economic, and local forces. While the use of illicit drugs affects every region of the country, most of our current information about drug use comes from large urban areas. Data on rural drug use and its harms justify greater attention. Record overdose rates, unexpected outbreaks of HIV, and a dearth of treatment facilities point to a rapidly worsening health situation. While health sciences have made considerable progress in understanding the etiology of drug use and uncovering the link between drug use and its myriad associated harms, this promising scientific news has not always translated to better health outcomes. The scope of the problem in the Central Plains of the US is growing, and can be estimated from available sources. Clear remedies for this rising level of abuse are available, but few have been implemented. Suggestions for short-term policy remedies are discussed.