Drug Education: The Gaps in Rural vs. Urban Communities
Location
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109
Event Website
https://2026undergraduateresearchsy.sched.com/event/2Ix81/drug-education-the-gaps-in-rural-vs-urban-communities
Start Date
15-4-2026 4:00 PM
End Date
15-4-2026 4:30 PM
Description
Drug education is often lacking in rural communities due to lack of access and lower quality of education in those areas. This is causing an increase in youth substance use and drug overdoses. Looking at previous research one can see a gap in substance use between rural and urban areas. This is a difference about specific substances being used as well as amount. The research showed that higher levels of general education can lead to lower risk of substance use issues. Research also looked at new programs that are focused on education and harm reduction with substance use and how they worked in urban areas to decrease risky substance use behavior. This research serves as a call for new programs to be created with regard to rural communities due to their differences. This research explores substance use across communities, the difference in general education level among communities, and discusses plans to create new programs in rural communities. There is also elaboration on how these factors that create differences in the communities should be the focus of programs to potentially lower the gap in communities and lead to less risky behaviors in youth and substance use.
Publication Date
2026
Drug Education: The Gaps in Rural vs. Urban Communities
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109
Drug education is often lacking in rural communities due to lack of access and lower quality of education in those areas. This is causing an increase in youth substance use and drug overdoses. Looking at previous research one can see a gap in substance use between rural and urban areas. This is a difference about specific substances being used as well as amount. The research showed that higher levels of general education can lead to lower risk of substance use issues. Research also looked at new programs that are focused on education and harm reduction with substance use and how they worked in urban areas to decrease risky substance use behavior. This research serves as a call for new programs to be created with regard to rural communities due to their differences. This research explores substance use across communities, the difference in general education level among communities, and discusses plans to create new programs in rural communities. There is also elaboration on how these factors that create differences in the communities should be the focus of programs to potentially lower the gap in communities and lead to less risky behaviors in youth and substance use.
https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/urs_event/2026/oralpresentations/14