This article provides a summary of emerging topics discussed during the National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ All Rise Annual Conference, and offers solutions to address current issues being faced by rural treatment courts.
This conference snapshot provides a comprehensive summary of the 2019 Rural Treatment Court Track at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ (NADCP) All Rise Annual Conference. The article highlights some unique challenges in rural treatment courts, including lack of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers, participant housing, and funding for operations. Featured topics from the Rural Treatment Court Track explored practical solutions to those challenges, including using telemedicine (telehealth) to administer medication-assisted treatment (MAT), establishing Oxford Houses, providing participants with aftercare, promoting inter- or intra-agency collaboration, and taking advantage of federal funding opportunities. The article provides discussion about each of those featured topics, expanding on what was discussed at the conference.