BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite elevated overdose risk in rural communities, rural/urban differences in overdose risk factors are understudied among women with criminal legal system involvement. This study examines substance use and overdose among incarcerated women.
METHODS: Women (N = 900) were randomly selected from nine Kentucky jails, screened, and interviewed as part of a larger study. Bivariate analyses were used to identify group differences.
RESULTS: Rural women were less likely to report pre-incarceration overdose and to receive emergency services post-overdose. Substance use also varied.
CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Results underscore the importance of Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in rural communities.
A descriptive analysis of rural-urban overdose experiences among incarcerated women with opioid use disorder
American Journal on Addictions, 34 (4), 460-464. doi: 10.1111/ajad.70025.