COVID-19 and Rural Harm Reduction Challenges in the US Southern Mountains
Corresponding Author
Bayla Ostrach PhD, MA
Department of Research, UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, Asheville, North Carolina
Family Medicine; Medical Anthropology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
For further information, contact: Bayla Ostrach, MA, PhD, Department of Research, UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, 121 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803; e-mail: [email protected].
Search for more papers by this authorLesly-Marie Buer PhD, MPH
Choice Health Network Harm Reduction, Knoxville, Tennessee
Search for more papers by this authorSam Armbruster MPH
Choice Health Network Harm Reduction, Knoxville, Tennessee
Search for more papers by this authorGariann Yochym MS, MSW
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Waynesville, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorNickolas Zaller PhD
Rural and Global Public Health Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Bayla Ostrach PhD, MA
Department of Research, UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, Asheville, North Carolina
Family Medicine; Medical Anthropology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
For further information, contact: Bayla Ostrach, MA, PhD, Department of Research, UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, 121 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803; e-mail: [email protected].
Search for more papers by this authorLesly-Marie Buer PhD, MPH
Choice Health Network Harm Reduction, Knoxville, Tennessee
Search for more papers by this authorSam Armbruster MPH
Choice Health Network Harm Reduction, Knoxville, Tennessee
Search for more papers by this authorGariann Yochym MS, MSW
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Waynesville, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorNickolas Zaller PhD
Rural and Global Public Health Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
Search for more papers by this author
References
- 1Rural Health Information Hub. Harm Reduction RHI Hub Rural HIV/AIDS Toolkit. 2020. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/hiv-aids/2/prevent/harm-reduction. Accessed June 19, 2020.
- 2Buer L-M. Overdosing in Appalachia. Boston Review. July 8, 2019. http://bostonreview.net/class-inequality-science-nature/lesly-marie-buer-overdosing-appalachia. Accessed August 8, 2019.
- 3Rural Health Information Hub. HPSA designations—Rural Healthcare Workforce. July 19, 2018. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/health-care-workforce#designation-determined. Accessed June 19, 2020.
- 4Godfrey W. The Harm Reduction Movement: Bigger Than Ever, But Facing Threats. Filter. Published online October 19, 2018. https://filtermag.org/the-harm-reduction-movement-bigger-than-ever-but-facing-threats/. Accessed June 4, 2020.
- 5Buer L-M. Rx Appalachia: Stories of Treatment and Survival in Rural Kentucky. Chicago, IL: Haymarket Books; 2020.
- 6Glick SN, Prohaska SM, LaKosky PA, Juarez AM, Corcorran MA, Des Jarlais DC. The impact of COVID-19 on syringe services programs in the United States. AIDS Behav. Published online April 24, 2020: 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02886-2
- 7CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.; 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html. Accessed June 19, 2020.
- 8Schranz AJ, Barrett J, Hurt CB, Malvestutto C, Miller WC. Challenges facing a rural opioid epidemic: treatment and prevention of HIV and hepatitis C. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. Published online May 23, 2018: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-018-0393-0
- 9Hurt CB, Carpenter DM, Evon DM, Hennessy CM, Rhea SK, Zule WA. Mitigating the risk of infectious diseases among rural drug users in Western North Carolina: results of the Southern Appalachia Test, Link, Care (SA-TLC) Health Care Provider Survey. J Rural Health. 2020; 36(2): 208-216.
- 10Hagan H, McGough JP, Thiede H, Hopkins S, Duchin J, Alexander ER. Reduced injection frequency and increased entry and retention in drug treatment associated with needle-exchange participation in Seattle drug injectors. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2000; 19(3): 247-252.
- 11Hagan H, Thiede H, Weiss NS, Hopkins SG, Duchin JS, Alexander ER. Sharing of drug preparation equipment as a risk factor for hepatitis C. Am J Public Health. 2001; 91(1): 42.
- 12Nadelmann E, LaSalle L. Two steps forward, one step back: current harm reduction policy and politics in the United States. Harm Reduct J. 2017; 14(1): 37.
- 13Wallace B, Barber K, Pauly BB. Sheltering risks: implementation of harm reduction in homeless shelters during an overdose emergency. Int J Drug Policy. 2018; 53: 83-89.
- 14North Carolina Medical Society. Death by Distribution Law. 2019. http://www.ncmedsoc.org/hb-474-death-by-distribution/. Accessed September 15, 2019.
- 15Castillo T. Harm Reduction vs. Gentrification in Asheville, North Carolina. The Fix. Published online April 29, 2019. https://www.thefix.com/harm-reduction-vs-gentrification-asheville-north-carolina. Accessed April 29, 2019.
- 16Jones CM. Patterns and characteristics of methamphetamine use among adults—United States, 2015–2018. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020; 69. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6912a1
- 17Yockey RA, King KA, Vidourek RA. Past-year methamphetamine use among US young adults: 2015–2018. J Subst Use. Published online 2020: 1-6.
- 18Novack LM, Carrasco KG, Tyler KA, Dombrowski K, Habecker P. Injection opioid and injection methamphetamine use in the rural United States: a systematic review and network analysis. J Drug Issues. 2020; 50(2): 127-141.
- 19National Harm Reduction Coalition. COVID-19 Guidance for People Who Use Drugs and Harm Reduction Programs. Harm Reduction Coalition. March 11, 2020. https://harmreduction.org/miscellaneous/covid-19-guidance-for-people-who-use-drugs-and-harm-reduction-programs/. Accessed June 3, 2020.
- 20Jenkins WD, Bolinski R, Bresett J, et al. COVID-19 during the opioid epidemic-exacerbation of stigma and vulnerabilities. J Rural Health. Published online 2020.
- 21Mann B. Pandemic Disrupts Illegal Drug Trade, Upending Both Product and Profits. Things Consid. Published online May 25, 2020. https://www.npr.org/2020/05/25/860944234/pandemic-disrupts-illegal-drug-trade-upending-both-product-and-profits. Accessed June 3, 2020.
- 22Carroll JJ, Rich JD, Green TC. The protective effect of trusted dealers against opioid overdose in the US. Int J Drug Policy. 2020; 78:102695.
- 23Volkow N. COVID-19: Potential Implications for Individuals With Substance Use Disorders. Atlanta, GA: CDC; 2020. https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2020/04/covid-19-potential-implications-individuals-substance-use-disorders. Accessed July 1, 2020.
- 24Federal Communications Commission. National Broadband Map. Published online n.d. https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/. Accessed June 30, 2020.
- 25Whitacre BE, Wheeler D, Landgraf C. What can the national broadband map tell us about the health care connectivity gap? J Rural Health. 2017; 33(3): 284-289.
- 26Cohen A, Dowdy S. Solidarity, Not Charity: Mutual Aid in LGBTQ+ Drug-Using Communities. The Filter. Published online June 15, 2020. https://filtermag.org/mutual-aid-harm-reduction-lgbtq/. Accessed June 18, 2020.
