In Rural Areas Without Pain Or Addiction Specialists, Family Doctors Fill In The Gaps | Shots | NPR

In many ways, rural communities like Necedah, Wis. have become the face of the nation’s opioid epidemic. Drug overdose deaths are more common in rural areas than urban ones. And rural doctors prescribe opioids more often by far, despite a nationwide decline in prescribing rates since 2012. Meanwhile, rural Americans have fewer alternatives to treat their very real pain, and they disproportionately lack access to effective addiction treatment like the medication buprenorphine.
For rural physicians like Dr. Angela Gatzke-Plamann, the only full-time family doctor serving a town of just under one thousand residents, the burden of responding to the opioid epidemic falls squarely on their shoulders.
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[@jacob-fiallos2163]

inspiring how people can live their lives so focused on helping others

[@tugloo1]

Rural living sounds great until you need resources/services that are mainly available in suburban/urban areas due to economics.

[@zeaferjones1404]

This reminds me of Iron City in Alita Battle Angel. That should win an Oscars by the way for best picture. I might be biased but I also think Rosa Salazar should win best actress!!!

[@driven9863]

I blame Obama for Opioid Crisis

[@jupitersworld244]

Opioid crisis was around long before Obama stop this

[@Courtney19751]

Uh, there has always been a lack of healthcare providers in rural America.

[@dray_dnt_hate2177]

Yang2020 ✊🏾🧢

[@vivek27789]

Damn it's 2024 election cycle now... Is Yang still around? 🤔

[@iniohos2]

wasting public money on addicts

[@roberthansen4673]

I used to live there