"If You Could Wave a Magic Wand": Treatment Barriers in the Rural Midwest.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Rural Health

Background:

• The opioid epidemic has significant multigenerational health and economic consequences.
• Ohio faces high opioid-related death rates, with unmet treatment needs exacerbated by access barriers in underserved rural areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in rural Ohio.
• To inform strategies for increasing access to evidence-based treatment, wrap-around services, and harm reduction to reduce opioid fatalities.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of focus group data from 20 individuals with diagnosed OUD.
• Triangulation with community health survey data from a rural Ohio county.
• Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's method.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: epigenetics and exposure, disease management including societal reintegration, and the disease process.
• Data highlighted the need to view OUD as a chronic condition requiring integrated medical, behavioral, and mental health care across lifespan and generations.

Conclusions:

• Integrated care models are essential for addressing OUD.
• Enhanced wrap-around services, including transportation, sober living, and employment support, are critical for successful reintegration and reducing fatalities.