New Program Could Help Reduce Opioid Use

A Community-Based Participatory Tobacco Dependence Strategy (PROMPT) is an effective strategy for use in at-risk populations affected by the increasing opioid epidemic, a recent study found.

For their study, the researchers evaluated 80 participants (mean age 43.8 years) who used drugs. Approximately 70% of participants were men, 33.7% received less than a high school education, and 43.8% earned between $1,000 and $1,999 per month. Mean daily cigarette use at baseline was 20.5.
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All participants included in the study were provided access to counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, and peer support in a community setting. Follow-up lasted 6 months.

Results showed that participants’ mean daily cigarette use had decreased by 11.2 at 6 months (from 20.5 to 9.3 cigarettes per day). The researchers also found significant reductions in self-reported use of illicit substances (18.8%) such as heroin (6.3%), fentanyl (2.6%), and Oxycontin (3.8%).

Notably, the program was also associated with psycho-socioeconomic benefits including improved health, return to work, and greater engagement within the community.

“The PROMPT project describes socioeconomic variables associated with tobacco and polysubstance use,” the researchers concluded. “A program focused on tobacco dependence, easily accessible in the community and led by community peers with lived experience is feasible to implement and has the potential to support positive life changes. PROMPT’s patient engagement model is an effective harm-reduction strategy for the growing opioid use crisis and can improve the health outcomes of marginalized at-risk populations worldwide.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Pakhale S, Kaur T, Charron C, et al. Management and Point-of-Care for Tobacco Dependence (PROMPT): a feasibility mixed methods community-based participatory action research project in Ottawa, Canada [Published online January 25, 2018]. BMJ Open. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018416.