New data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration shows that rural communities have the highest death rates nationwide from opioid prescriptions.

 The USDA is hitting the road this spring to host a series of monthly roundtables to address the opioid crisis in rural America. “The opioid epidemic in rural communities is more than a public health issue,” said Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett. “This is a matter of rural prosperity. Opioid misuse […]

The USDA has unveiled a new web page featuring resources to help rural communities respond to the opioid crisis. “While no corner of the country has gone untouched by the opioid crisis, small towns and rural places have been particularly hard hit,” said Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett. “The challenge of […]

Overprescribing may be the main driver for the opioid epidemic in rural America, but economists say that other factors, including declining farm income, extreme weather, and other natural disasters, may also be contributing. In a study of relationships between socioeconomic variables and opioid-related drug overdoses, researchers found several correlations that are often not discussed in […]

As farming communities face mounting challenges with the nation’s opioid epidemic, the nation’s two largest general farm organizations are teaming up to confront the issue. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and National Farmers Union (NFU) have started “Farm Town Strong,” to raise awareness of the crisis’ impact on farming communities, provide resources and information […]