Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
9-5-2023 1:00 PM
End Date
9-5-2023 4:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION: The opioid crisis is a major public health issue affecting communities across the United States, including Georgia. The widespread misuse of prescription and illicit opioids has led to a significant increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. The impact on Georgia communities has been devastating, affecting individuals from all walks of life and causing significant harm to families and communities. The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the number of drug overdose deaths in the state rose by 61.9% from 2019 to 2021. Rural and Urban communities in Georgia face unique challenges in addressing this epidemic. Rural communities often have fewer healthcare resources, including fewer addiction treatment facilities and healthcare providers, making it more difficult for people in these areas to get the help they need; whereas Urban communities typically have more resources available to address the opioid crisis. This study will examine the effects of the opioid epidemic in Georgia, focusing on the difficulties encountered by both rural and urban communities.
OBJECTIVE: This is a comparative approach study to examine the unique challenges faced by rural and urban communities in addressing the opioid epidemic, including limited access to healthcare and treatment resources. By conducting this research project, providers could gain a deeper understanding of the opioid epidemic and its impact on rural and urban communities and contribute to the development of effective strategies for addressing the epidemic in these communities.
METHODS: Conduct a comprehensive systematic review and data extraction of relevant articles that discuss the challenges and barriers impact of the opioid crisis in Rural vs Urban areas.
RESULTS: Our findings indicated that a review of the distribution of methadone clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) by county demonstrated that urban communities had a higher number of these facilities compared to rural communities. A comparison of the availability of methadone clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) by county revealed a higher concentration of these resources in urban areas as opposed to rural areas.
DISCUSSION: Barriers to community resources exist for Georgia residents located in rural areas, which includes decreased access to healthcare, behavioral health resources, health insurance, educational resources, and opioid reversal agents. Considering these barriers could aid in targeted support for patients living in rural Georgia. An intriguing discovery was made that the rural and urban drug-related overdose mortality rates adjusted for age nationwide in 2019 did not show a statistically significant difference. However, there are variations in accessible resources. A county-level analysis of opioid-related deaths in 2020 revealed that they were predominantly concentrated in North and Southeast Georgia.
Embargo Period
7-10-2023
Opioid Overdose: Rural Georgia vs. Urban Georgia - Who's Winning the Battle?
Moultrie, GA
INTRODUCTION: The opioid crisis is a major public health issue affecting communities across the United States, including Georgia. The widespread misuse of prescription and illicit opioids has led to a significant increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. The impact on Georgia communities has been devastating, affecting individuals from all walks of life and causing significant harm to families and communities. The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the number of drug overdose deaths in the state rose by 61.9% from 2019 to 2021. Rural and Urban communities in Georgia face unique challenges in addressing this epidemic. Rural communities often have fewer healthcare resources, including fewer addiction treatment facilities and healthcare providers, making it more difficult for people in these areas to get the help they need; whereas Urban communities typically have more resources available to address the opioid crisis. This study will examine the effects of the opioid epidemic in Georgia, focusing on the difficulties encountered by both rural and urban communities.
OBJECTIVE: This is a comparative approach study to examine the unique challenges faced by rural and urban communities in addressing the opioid epidemic, including limited access to healthcare and treatment resources. By conducting this research project, providers could gain a deeper understanding of the opioid epidemic and its impact on rural and urban communities and contribute to the development of effective strategies for addressing the epidemic in these communities.
METHODS: Conduct a comprehensive systematic review and data extraction of relevant articles that discuss the challenges and barriers impact of the opioid crisis in Rural vs Urban areas.
RESULTS: Our findings indicated that a review of the distribution of methadone clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) by county demonstrated that urban communities had a higher number of these facilities compared to rural communities. A comparison of the availability of methadone clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) by county revealed a higher concentration of these resources in urban areas as opposed to rural areas.
DISCUSSION: Barriers to community resources exist for Georgia residents located in rural areas, which includes decreased access to healthcare, behavioral health resources, health insurance, educational resources, and opioid reversal agents. Considering these barriers could aid in targeted support for patients living in rural Georgia. An intriguing discovery was made that the rural and urban drug-related overdose mortality rates adjusted for age nationwide in 2019 did not show a statistically significant difference. However, there are variations in accessible resources. A county-level analysis of opioid-related deaths in 2020 revealed that they were predominantly concentrated in North and Southeast Georgia.
Comments
Presented by Didem Aydin.