Blog post written by Thomas Consiglio, Addiction Campuses
Farmers and ranchers are disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. Older adults in these communities are particularly at-risk. With jobs in rural areas frequently involving physical labor, many residents suffer from ailments that require pain management.
As an effective tool that blocks pain receptors in the brain, opioids have helped Americans cope with discomfort and chronic pain for decades. Although opioids are the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, they put farmers and rural residents at-risk.
Farmers And The Opioid Crisis
According to census data, overall 2 million farmers are principal operators of heavy machinery. Due to heavy machinery and other farming equipment, agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in America.
Occupational injuries, age, and the nature of work put farmers at an increased risk of opioid misuse. The American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union sponsored a survey to highlight some of the issues affecting this community.
The survey suggests that farmers and the rest of the rural populace face challenges associated with the opioid epidemic. Some findings from the survey include:
- Almost 75 percent of farmers or farm workers are affected by opioid use. This ranges from dealing with addiction themselves to knowing someone who struggles with misuse.
- Over 75 percent of agricultural workers report it’s not hard to find opioids in their community, including obtaining painkillers without a prescription.
- Less than 35 percent of adults (one in three) living in rural areas say opioid addiction treatment is easily accessible in their communities.
What We Know About Opioid Misuse In Rural America
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that patients living in rural areas are prescribed more opioids than their urban-living counterparts. Compared to residents of larger metro areas, rural county residents have an 87 percent higher chance of receiving an opioid prescription.
Data collected from 2017 shows that rural communities are adversely affected. Out of the top 15 counties with the highest opioid prescribing rates in the U.S., only one county wasn’t located in a rural area. Twenty four percent of Texans who were admitted for substance use treatment in 2013 were admitted for opioid dependency second only to alcohol dependency.
High opioid prescribing rates are thought to increase the risk of fatal overdose. Although prescribing rates have decreased in recent years, opioid-related overdose deaths continue to rise.
Overdose Death Rates In Rural America
Although slightly lower than urban regions, the rate of drug overdose deaths in rural counties was 20 per 100,000 people in 2017. Whereas more males died of a drug-related overdose in urban areas, more females perished in rural communities.
Prescription opioids like morphine, codeine, and oxycodone contributed to more overdose deaths in rural counties as opposed to urban ones.
Out of all the opioid-related overdose deaths in rural communities in 2016, over 40 percent claimed the lives of adults over the age of 45.
Rural Opioid Misuse Risk Factors
Rural communities face certain risk factors for developing opioid addiction. Some of these risk factors include:
- increased availability of prescription opioids
- low education
- unemployment and poverty
- stigma about addiction and treatment
- limited resources
Rural Americans, especially older adults, may also experience mental health issues like depression. The geographical location of rural areas contribute to social isolation and feelings of loneliness, which can increase the risk of opioid use.
Barriers To Treatment
There are several challenges and barriers to addiction treatment in rural communities, including a lack of accessible resources. To address the need for care, many rural communities need to make improvements with:
- modern connectivity
- healthcare access
- telemedicine
- transportation infrastructure
- recovery housing
- mobile treatment centers
- essential community services
To help jump-start care in these regions, the USDA recently funded $3 billion to address the opioid epidemic in rural America.
What The USDA Is Doing To Help
The USDA is taking measures to support the opioid crisis in agricultural communities. Some of the resources that are being developed include:
- addiction treatment clinics
- prescription drug drop-off boxes
- first responder vehicles
- public safety stations
Additional funds have been added to create rural distance learning and telemedicine projects, as well as specialized opioid treatment options and accessible mental health care.
Local Communities Will Ultimately Make The Difference
Due to the diversity of rural areas, local communities must develop their own approaches for dealing with opioid abuse. Amidst the growing opioid crisis, we may see more rural communities begin to:
- expand services for grandparents raising grandchildren
- increase public awareness
- expand rural transportation options to treatment centers
- coordinate resources for prevention and treatment
Although resources are scarce in rural communities across Texas, there are several addiction organizations that can assist Texans in finding treatment. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services is standing by to help when needed. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, it’s crucial to reach out. No matter where you are, local resources are available: