Effects of the Opioid Epidemic on Urban and Rural Counties in Appalachia

Keywords: Opioid Epidemic, public health, Appalachia, regional disparities
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

The Opioid Epidemic in the Appalachian region has caused distress to the region for decades, partly due to a variety of socioeconomic factors. Using data from the CDC Wonder Database, the calculation for this study was based on yearly opioid-related death rates from 2014 to 2022 for 423 Appalachian counties in 13 states that make up Appalachia. To reveal spatial patterns and understand regional disparities, multiple regression analysis was performed, highlighting how county-level classifications, from urban to rural, affect opioid overdose mortality. Observations revealed significant spatial autocorrelation, underscoring regional clustering of opioid overdose deaths in areas with high unemployment, low income, and high opioid prescription rates particularly in rural counties. By analyzing trends at various levels of urbanization, as defined by the NCHS Rural-Urban Classification Scheme, distinct differences were captured in opioid mortality rates between urban and rural areas. Rural areas, classified as Micropolitan and NonCore, demonstrated higher crude death rates than urban areas, suggesting that socioeconomic challenges in these regions exacerbate the impact of the opioid epidemic. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) was performed to account for spatial variation for differing county types. The identified patterns of opioid overdose deaths highlight the critical importance of addressing socioeconomic determinants to mitigate the ongoing crisis in this particularly affected region.