UNDERSTANDING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND ENHANCING ACCESS IN RURAL NEBRASKA 

Study Overview: In this project, we aim to identify and address transportation obstacles to accessing SUD treatment in Nebraska, with a focus on understanding accessibility and characterizing challenges in rural communities. By combining spatiotemporal analysis with qualitative exploration through practitioner interviews, we expect to provide a comprehensive understanding of transportation barriers to SUD treatment in rural Nebraska. Results will be able to inform health-promoting planning, policymaking, and practice within and beyond Nebraska, with implications for addressing pressing transportation and health challenges in rural areas. This project will inform targeted interventions and programming that address transportation barriers to care, improve access, and support better health outcomes for individuals with SUD living in rural areas with limited treatment and transportation options. 

Biography: Dr. Abigail Cochran holds a Master of City Planning and Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. She is broadly interested in travel behavior, transportation policy, disability, aging, and health. She is an Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Planning at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.