Recommendations to bridge rural/urban drug-use(r) research and practice

This article presents recommendations developed by a group of United States drug-use(r) researchers interested in rural and urban research and practic e who met in Lexington, Kentucky, in October 1996. Overall, there was conse nsus about the importance of better understanding the urban/rural drug and alcohol use/dependency continuum. It was emphasized that drug and alcohol u se/dependency are chronic and relapsing disorders. Definitions of rural and urban are most important, and different definitions may be associated with factors that are masked by population density. Specific recommendations ar e presented in the following areas: Rural Factors, Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, Treatment and Other Services, Migration, Youth, Protective Factors, Systems Perspective, Measurement, Confidentiality, Criminal Justice, Research, Pol icy Research, Economic Factors, Service Providers, and Managed Care.