Rural Social Drivers of Health and the Opioid Epidemic: An Urban–Rural Perspective

Rural Social Drivers of Health and the Opioid Epidemic: An Urban–Rural Perspective with Guest Speaker: Tonne McCoy, Technical Assistance Director for the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health

Also available on Zoom at: https://wilson.zoom.us/j/98809674093?pwd=mQBgGvJwMRRh4nPzuszKKYwX5pFGNd…

This one-hour webinar will examine how rural social drivers of health (SDOH)—such as economic constraints, cultural norms, and limited healthcare access—contribute to the disproportionately high rates of opioid-related harm in rural America. Drawing on comparative data between rural and urban contexts, participants will explore how factors such as persistent poverty, occupational hazards, and intergenerational trauma exacerbate the opioid epidemic outside metropolitan areas. The session will also highlight the pivotal role of first responders and local stakeholders in reducing overdose fatalities, emphasizing the need for community-centered approaches to address opioid misuse in rural regions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify Key Rural Social Drivers of Health
   Participants will be able to define and discuss at least three rural SDOH (e.g., poverty, geographic isolation, occupational hazards) that directly influence opioid use patterns and overdose risks.
2. Compare Rural vs. Urban Opioid Dynamics
   Participants will learn to differentiate how unique elements of rural living—such as sparse healthcare infrastructure and greater social stigma—intersect with opioid misuse, resulting in higher rates of opioid-related mortality compared to urban areas.
3. Outline Community-Centered Strategies
   Participants will be able to describe evidence-based, culturally responsive interventions and policies that empower rural first responders, promote naloxone training, and improve health literacy to mitigate the opioid crisis in resource-limited settings.

Tonne McCoy, Technical Assistance Director for the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
Tonne is a doctoral candidate in experimental psychology with an emphasis on rural health at Idaho State University. She is the technical assistance director for the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH). With nearly a decade of rural health experience and technical expertise in Rural Health Clinic program compliance, Lean Six Sigma, and empirical research, Tonne’s work uses her knowledge and experience to help the 50 SORH in the nation develop rural programming expertise, ultimately helping their rural communities become and remain more well.