Prescription Opioid & Stimulant Misuse in Rural Montana: From Insight to Education
Current Grant Projects
Rural Health Safety and Education 2018 Grant Project: Educating and Empowering Aging Populations in Rural Montana about Prescription Opioid Misuse
(Funded by the USDA)
The goal of this project is to reduce the rate of prescription opioid misuse and opioid use disorder among the aging population in rural Montana communities. This project will target individuals in rural communities who are ages 65 and older. Individuals 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population in Montana. The rate of opioid-based prescriptions among the aging has increased drastically. There are few large urban areas in the state of Montana. The following counties were found to have higher aging population percentages and will be targeted for this project: Fergus/Petroleum, Powder River, and Rosebud/Treasure.
Rural Opioid Technical Assistance 2018 Grant Project: MSU Extension Rural Health &Safety Education Expansion to Provide Evidence-Based Training on Prescription Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery
(Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA)
The goal of this project is to partner with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, State Targeted Response (STR), State Opioid Response (SOR) recipients and the Montana Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grantees to expand the capacity to address opioid use and misuse within the State. According to a 2013 report by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, a higher prevalence of prescription opioid use was reported by American Indians than by whites. In response to the growing need to address prescription opioid misuse among American Indians, the following Montana tribes were added to the project: Northern Cheyanne, Fort Belknap, and Fort Peck. This project will also allow for expanded efforts to address prescription opioid misuse among pregnant mothers and those caregiving for the elder populations in both rural and tribal communities across Montana.
No Cost Extensions Awarded
Our project team will continue providing collaborative evidence-based training, educational outreach, and resource development on prescription opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery. The 2018 Rural Opioid Technical Assistance (ROTA) grant period, awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has been extended until July 29, 2021. The 2018 Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) grant period, awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has been extended until February 28, 2021.
Rural Opioid Technical Assistance 2020 Grant Project: MSU Extension Expansion Project to Provide Education, Outreach and Training on Opioid and Stimulant Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for Rural and Native Montana Youth
(Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA)
The goal of this project is to better understand the situation faced by rural and Native youth in Montana as it relates to prescription opioid and stimulant misuse. According to the Montana Office of Public Instruction, 2019 Youth Risk Behavior survey, one in ten highschool students has taken a prescription drug witout a doctors precription. Sustainable partnerships with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, a State Targeted Response (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) recipient, the Montana Primary Care Association (MPCA), and the Montana Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grantees, will allow us to expand the capacity needed to address prescription opioid and stimulant use and misuse among youth in Montana. A significant portion of our work will involve greater outreach and more effective, relevant prevention efforts for Native American youth and young adults.
