Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Dec 13:15:11782218211053343.
doi: 10.1177/11782218211053343. eCollection 2021.

"If You Could Wave a Magic Wand": Treatment Barriers in the Rural Midwest

Angela Clark  1 , Jennifer Lanzillotta-Rangeley  1 , Jack Stem  1
Affiliations

"If You Could Wave a Magic Wand": Treatment Barriers in the Rural Midwest

Angela Clark et al. Subst Abuse. .

Abstract

Introduction: The multigenerational health considerations and negative economic impacts related to the opioid epidemic are many. Increasing numbers of opioid-related fatalities are bolstered by barriers related to access to evidence-based treatment. Ohio is ranked second in the country for number of opioid-related deaths, and for many their treatment needs remain unmet due to impaired access to effective treatment, in rural, medically underserved areas of the state.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess opioid use disorder treatment barriers in order to increase access to evidence-based treatment, wrap around services, and harm reduction efforts to support the reintegration of persons with substance use disorder back into society and subsequently reduce opioid fatalities in a rural, medically underserved region of Ohio.

Methods: As part of a larger mixed-methods study design where a community health survey was randomly distributed to residents in a rural county in Ohio, this study used qualitative methods to triangulate findings. To supplement the data received from the surveys, 20persons with a diagnosed opioid use disorder (OUD) took part in focus group sessions guided by trained researchers. The sessions were transcribed, and the data was analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis method.

Results: Three major themes emerged from the data: epigenetics and exposure, management of disease including re-integration into society, and disease process. The participant data created insight regarding the need to recognize OUD as a chronic condition that must be addressed with integrated components of medical, behavioral, and mental health morbidities throughout the lifespan and across generations.

Conclusions: Findings from this study support the need for targeted interventions for integrated care and improved wrap around services such as transportation, sober living, and employment.

Keywords: Substance abuse; addiction; harm reduction options; medication assisted treatment (MAT); opioid epidemic; opioid-related supports; substance misuse.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Focus group participant suggestions to decrease OUD treatment barriers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, et al.. Increases and geographic variations in overdose deaths involving opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulants with abuse potential—United States, 2010-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(50-51):1445-1452. - PubMed
    1. Scholl L, Seth P, Kariisa M, Wilson N, Baldwin G. Drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths – United States, 2013-2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67:1419-1427. - PMC - PubMed
    1. National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2017: With Special Feature on Mortality. National Center for Health Statistics; 2018. - PubMed
    1. Weiss AJ, Bailey MK, O’Malley L, Barrett ML, Elixhauser A, Steiner CA. Patient Characteristics of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Nationally and by State, 2014. Statistical Brief #224. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2006. - PubMed
    1. Weiss AJ, Elixhauser A, Barrett ML, Steiner CA, Bailey MK, O’Malley L. Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits by State, 2009-2014. Statistical Brief #219. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2006.