Opioid misuse viewed through person and place in the rural West.

Objective: This article overviews the current statistics and factors related to increased rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural areas, uncovering factors that may contribute to increased vulnerability to opioid overdose. We qualitatively review opinions, feelings, and thoughts surrounding this issue in rural areas of Utah, analyzing participant stories in reference to three themes through qualitative interviews, including the solitude of addiction, the beguiling strength of addiction, and one way out of addiction.

Design: In 2018, three focus groups were convened with 25 individuals from the rural area.