In contrast to opioid use disorder, medications are not available for treating other drug use disorders (DUDs), necessitating that persons with other types of DUDs (e.g., methamphetamine and cocaine use disorders) receive traditional therapies (e.g., counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, or contingency management) in outpatient or residential treatment settings. Treatment utilization rates have been shown to be low among rural residents with a DUD. One of our Center's prior reports showed that only 12.4% of urban and 13.7% of rural adults with a DUD received any treatment in the past year.

Rising stimulant use (both methamphetamine and cocaine) rates among rural residents point to a need to investigate inadequacies in the substance use treatment system in rural areas. Yet, very little recent research has examined the substance use treatment capacity across rural and urban areas nationally. Access to other health-related services, such as health screenings and primary care, within substance use treatment centers is also of concern.

Specific aims of the study are:

1. To identify substance use treatment deserts and the availability of residential and outpatient treatment across rural relative to urban counties nationally.
2. To describe the substance use treatment and related medical and recovery services provided, groups served, and insurance coverage accepted among rural relative to urban treatment centers nationally.

This study will provide up-to-date estimates of the availability and characteristics of substance use treatment in rural and urban areas nationally. It will inform policy makers of the magnitude of any rural/urban inequities in treatment availability, which could help guide further investments in treatment sources.