View Policy Brief

02/2008

This Research & Policy Brief highlights findings from a recent study examining the distribution of substance abuse treatment facilities in rural and urban counties and identifying the type and intensity of services provided.

Key findings include:

• Access to substance abuse treatment is limited in rural areas by fewer treatment beds.
• Less populated rural areas contain a small proportion of facilities offering a range of core services and varying levels of outpatient and intensive services.
• Opioid treatment programs are nearly absent in rural areas.

Maine Rural Health Research Center

Jennifer Lenardson, John Gale

Health disparities and health equity, Health services, Rural statistics and demographics, Substance use and treatment