Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Advisor

Jeannette Manger

Abstract

Background: Opioid use contributes significantly to deaths throughout the United States. Opioid overdose deaths have increased in recent years and the opioid crisis has far reaching effects on many communities. There are several factors that contribute to opioid overuse and death, including access to resources and social factors.
Objective: In this study we aimed to assess how social factors affect overdoses by examining the differences between rural and urban communities over time.
Methods: We utilized data from County Health Rankings and conducted a retrospective review of data from 2016 and 2023 to compare several factors that we hypothesized affected opioid overdoses. We divided counties into rural or urban to compare how access to resources and social factors differ and contribute to overdose deaths.
Results: We found no correlation between overdose deaths in rural and urban communities in 2016 and 2023. There was a weak, positive correlation between frequent mental distress and overdose in both 2016 (r = .405, p < .001) and 2023 (r=.390, p < .001). There was a negative correlation between median household income and overdose in both 2016 (r = -.333, p = .004) and 2023 (r= -.477, p < .001). There was a negative correlation between social association and overdoses in 2023 only (r= -.339, p = .003). Indicators of stress were found to account for 66.9% of variance in overdose mortality in 2023 (F1,80 = 64.664, p<0.001) and 51.2% in 2016 (F2,71 = 12.619, p<0.001). Overdose mortality was significantly different in Ohio between 2016 and 2023 (t = 11.094, p<0.001).
Discussion: We expected that less access to resources, including primary care as seen in rural areas, would increase mortality. However, opioid use disorders are complex and efforts to limit mortality rates should focus on multiple factors that are associated with overdose.

Download


Share

COinS