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@article{204719,
        author = {Ahmed F. Alanazi},
        title = {Social Work and Drug Recovery in Rural Montana: Integrating Technology, Culture, and Community},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {6413-6429},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=204719},
        abstract = {Montana confronts a paradoxical substance use crisis: declining drug seizures coincide with rising overdose fatalities, while vast rural landscapes and American Indian communities develop innovative, culturally grounded responses to addiction. This manuscript examines the current state of drug recovery services in Montana through a social work lens, synthesizing legislative reforms, tribal wellness initiatives, community-based recovery supports, epidemiological trends, and emerging technological interventions. The analysis identifies four critical findings based on a review of the literature: First, rural recovery community centers (RCCs) serve as essential bridging institutions addressing social determinants of health in frontier environments (Bohler et al., 2025; Mancini & Linhorst, 2021). Second, Indigenous-led healing courts and culturally grounded interventions demonstrate promising outcomes by integrating spiritual practices and community connectedness into evidence-based treatment frameworks (KPAX News, 2025; LUC-Finna, 2019). Third, recent Montana legislation (SB 516) and state investments (HEART Fund, Behavioral Health System for Future Generations) signal policy commitment, yet implementation gaps persist, particularly regarding medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) access and cross-sector collaboration (Montana Legislature, 2025; State of Montana Newsroom, 2025). Fourth, technology-assisted interventions, including telehealth platforms, mobile health applications, wearable monitoring devices, and digital peer support networks, offer promising solutions to geographic and workforce barriers while requiring careful adaptation for rural and tribal contexts (Thapa et al., 2026; Marsch et al., 2024; Tofighi et al., 2023). The manuscript concludes with practice recommendations for social workers, including technology-enhanced culturally responsive assessment tools, telehealth adaptations for family-based interventions (CRAFT), digital harm reduction strategies, and advocacy for technology-infused recovery-oriented systems of care that prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration. Implications for social work education and policy advocacy in rural contexts are discussed.},
        keywords = {Rural social work, substance use disorder, Montana, Indigenous health, recovery community centers, healing courts, harm reduction, telehealth, digital health interventions, mobile health},
        month = {June},
        }