A rural ecosystem of recovery: Lessons from substance users' experiences of accessing services in Western Australia's South West

Substance use is a public health issue with a greater burden in rural areas. Barriers to accessing services are exacerbated for rural substance users, with confidentiality concerns, longer travel distances, workforce issues and limited availability of services. This paper presents results from a study exploring substance users' experiences of accessing services in Western Australia's South West.

Citation:
Cuesta-Briand B, Taran M, Coleman M. A rural ecosystem of recovery: Lessons from substance users' experiences of accessing services in Western Australia's South West. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2022.

Keywords:
Access; lived experience; rural; socio-ecological; substance use

Abstract:
Substance use is a public health issue with a greater burden in rural areas. Barriers to accessing services are exacerbated for rural substance users, with confidentiality concerns, longer travel distances, workforce issues and limited availability of services. This paper presents results from a study exploring substance users' experiences of accessing services in Western Australia's South West.