Comparison of Rural and Urban Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions. The TEDS Report for July 31, 2012.

摘要

Reducing existing disparities within the American health care system is a key Federal priority. One factor that can impact the types of services offered is population density. In fact, it is known that the urbanization level of a community can impact both the types of services offered and the use of services received, particularly in the area of substance abuse treatment. Examining substance abuse treatment admissions in the most urban and most rural areas may help inform prevention, intervention, and expanded treatment efforts for urban and rural communities. For example, it has been demonstrated that urban drug abusers are more likely to use cocaine and heroin, while rural drug abusers report more alcohol, opiate pain reliever, and stimulant use. An enhanced understanding of these types of differences may enable policymakers and treatment providers to direct limited resources more effectively and increase the quality of care received in different geographic contexts.