scholarly journals Implementation and Outcomes of a Comprehensive Tobacco Free Workplace Program in Opioid Treatment Centers

Author(s):  
Matthew Taing ◽  
Vijay Nitturi ◽  
Tzuan A. Chen ◽  
Bryce Kyburz ◽  
Isabel Martinez Leal ◽  
...  

Tobacco use is exceedingly high among individuals receiving care for opioid addiction, but not commonly addressed by clinicians in treatment settings. Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) is a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace (TFW) program that builds treatment centers’ capacity to address tobacco use with evidence-based tobacco cessation policies and practices. Here, we examine the process and outcomes of TTTF’s implementation within 7 opioid addiction centers. Program goals were structured according to the RE-AIM framework. Pre- and post-implementation data were collected from client facing and non-client facing employees to assess changes in education, training receipt, knowledge, and intervention behaviors, relative to program goals. Centers reported tobacco screenings conducted and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) delivered through 6 months post-implementation. Overall, 64.56% of employees participated in TTTF-delivered tobacco education, with a 54.9% gain in tobacco control and treatment knowledge (p < 0.0001), and significant increases in exposure to education about tobacco use and harms among individuals with opioid use disorder (p = 0.0401). There were significant gains in clinicians’ receipt of training in 9/9 tobacco education areas (ps ≤ 0.0118). From pre- to post-implementation, there were mean increases in the use of the 5A’s (ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange) and other evidence-based interventions for tobacco cessation, with statistically significant gains seen in NRT provision/referral (p < 0.0001). Several program goals were achieved or exceeded; however, 100% center participation in specialized clinical trainings was among notable exceptions. One program withdrew due to competing pandemic concerns; all others implemented comprehensive TFW policies. Overall, TTTF may have improved participating opioid treatment centers’ capacity to address tobacco use, although study limitations, including lower post-implementation evaluation response rates, suggest that results require replication in other opioid addiction treatment settings.

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Little ◽  
Pallav Pokhrel ◽  
Steve Sussman ◽  
Karen J. Derefinko ◽  
Zoran Bursac ◽  
...  

Background: Although there are now a number of evidence-based tobacco use cessation programs available for dissemination, almost all adolescent tobacco cessation research comprises efficacy and effectiveness studies. As a result, there is a need for more research to guide the scaling up of these programs.Methods: The current study utilized data from a cross-sectional sample of 205 administrators and tobacco prevention program coordinators in school districts and county offices of education throughout California, to explore factors that affect the adoption of tobacco cessation programs in schools.Results: We found that several characteristics of the community, organization and individual respondent were associated with the adoption of evidence-based tobacco cessation programs in schools, including identifying tobacco use prevention as a community priority, having school-level SUP coordinators, greater coordinator effort devoted to tobacco use prevention, having a program champion, and currently receiving TUPE funds (all ps < .05).Conclusions: Although the availability of dedicated tobacco education funds is an important factor in schools adopting tobacco cessation programs with proven effectiveness, our results suggest that strengthening education agencies' capacity to implement prevention programming, through dedicated resources and personnel, has the potential to lead to increased adoption of tobacco cessation programs.


2020 ◽  
pp. 073401682098162
Author(s):  
Sonia L. Canzater ◽  
Regina M. LaBelle

The disproportional rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) in U.S. correctional facilities make them prime intervention points to treat OUD utilizing medication to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD), the evidence-based clinical standard of care. MOUD has been shown to be effective to support recovery and reduce recurrence of OUD, overdose deaths, and recidivism for justice-involved persons both while incarcerated and once they reenter their communities. Despite the high prevalence, most jails and prisons do not offer MOUD. Litigation has spurred expanded access in more facilities, but widespread MOUD access can only become a reality through a comprehensive effort of corrections officials, medical experts, advocates, legislators, and other champions to raise awareness and affect ideological and policy change. It is a legal and ethical imperative that the lives of justice-involved persons not be jeopardized by the lack of evidence-based treatment for OUD in correctional settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tea Rosic ◽  
Raveena Kapoor ◽  
Balpreet Panesar ◽  
Leen Naji ◽  
Darren B. Chai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background With the ongoing opioid crisis and policy changes regarding legalization of cannabis occurring around the world, it is necessary to consider cannabis use in the context of opioid use disorder (OUD) and its treatment. We aimed to examine (1) past-month cannabis use in patients with OUD, (2) self-reported cannabis-related side effects and craving, and (3) the association between specific characteristics of cannabis use and opioid use during treatment in cannabis users. Methods Participants receiving pharmacological treatment for OUD (n = 2315) were recruited from community-based addiction treatment clinics in Ontario, Canada, and provided information on past-month cannabis use (self-report). Participants were followed for 3 months with routine urine drug screens in order to assess opioid use during treatment. We used logistic regression analysis to explore (1) the association between any cannabis use and opioid use during treatment, and (2) amongst cannabis-users, specific cannabis use characteristics associated with opioid use. Qualitative methods were used to examine responses to the question: “What effect does marijuana have on your treatment?”. Results Past-month cannabis use was reported by 51% of participants (n = 1178). Any cannabis use compared to non-use was not associated with opioid use (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.87–1.23, p = 0.703). Amongst cannabis users, nearly 70% reported daily use, and half reported experiencing cannabis-related side effects, with the most common side effects being slower thought process (26.2%) and lack of motivation (17.3%). For cannabis users, daily cannabis use was associated with lower odds of opioid use, when compared  with occasional use (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.47–0.79, p < 0.001) as was older age of onset of cannabis use (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.94, 0.99, p = 0.032), and reporting cannabis-related side effects (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.51, 0.85, p = 0.001). Altogether, 75% of cannabis users perceived no impact of cannabis on their OUD treatment. Conclusion Past-month cannabis use was not associated with more or less opioid use during treatment. For patients who use cannabis, we identified specific characteristics of cannabis use associated with differential outcomes. Further examination of characteristics and patterns of cannabis use is warranted and may inform more tailored assessments and treatment recommendations.


2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah R. Tierney ◽  
Christopher L. Rowe ◽  
Diana A. Coffa ◽  
Shashi Sarnaik ◽  
Phillip O. Coffin ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 141-152
Author(s):  
Tamoud Modak, MD, DM ◽  
Siddharth Sarkar, MD, MRCPsych ◽  
Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, MD

Opioid use disorder is a major public health problem, and opioid replacement therapy with buprenorphine (BPN) is a clinically effective and evidence-based treatment for it. To deter misuse of the tablet through the injecting route, BPN coformulated with naloxone (BNX) in 4:1 ratio is available in many countries. Despite this, significant diversion and injecting use of the BNX combination has been reported from across the world. In this article, the pharmacological properties of BPN and BNX and the evidence for their diversion are reviewed. Also, a critical examination is made of the evidence supporting the role of naloxone in reducing the agonist effects of BPN when used through the injecting route. Based on this evidence, a hypothesis explaining the continued diversion of BNX has been proposed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-124
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Kilpatrick ◽  
Kathleen B. Cartmell ◽  
Abdoulaye Diedhiou ◽  
K. Michael Cummings ◽  
Graham W. Warren ◽  
...  

Introduction: Continued smoking by cancer patients causes adverse cancer treatment outcomes, but few patients receive evidence-based smoking cessation as a standard of care.Aim: To evaluate practical strategies to promote wide-scale dissemination and implementation of evidence-based tobacco cessation services within state cancer centers.Methods: A Collaborative Learning Model (CLM) for Quality Improvement was evaluated with three community oncology practices to identify barriers and facilitate practice change to deliver evidence-based smoking cessation treatments to cancer patients using standardized assessments and referrals to statewide smoking cessation resources. Patients were enrolled and tracked through an automated data system and received follow-up cessation support post-enrollment. Monthly quantitative reports and qualitative data gathered through interviews and collaborative learning sessions were used to evaluate meaningful quality improvement changes in each cancer center.Results: Baseline practice evaluation for the CLM identified the lack of tobacco use documentation, awareness of cessation guidelines, and awareness of services for patients as common barriers. Implementation of a structured assessment and referral process demonstrated that of 1,632 newly registered cancer patients,1,581 (97%) were screened for tobacco use. Among those screened, 283 (18%) were found to be tobacco users. Of identified tobacco users, 207 (73%) were advised to quit. Referral of new patients who reported using tobacco to an evidence-based cessation program increased from 0% at baseline across all three cancer centers to 64% (range = 30%–89%) during the project period.Conclusions: Implementation of quality improvement learning collaborative models can dramatically improve delivery of guideline-based tobacco cessation treatments to cancer patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. eabe4577
Author(s):  
Lajos V. Kemény ◽  
Kathleen C. Robinson ◽  
Andrea L. Hermann ◽  
Deena M. Walker ◽  
Susan Regan ◽  
...  

The current opioid epidemic warrants a better understanding of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to opioid addiction. Here we report an increased prevalence of vitamin D (VitD) deficiency in patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder and an inverse and dose-dependent association of VitD levels with self-reported opioid use. We used multiple pharmacologic approaches and genetic mouse models and found that deficiencies in VitD signaling amplify exogenous opioid responses that are normalized upon restoration of VitD signaling. Similarly, physiologic endogenous opioid analgesia and reward responses triggered by ultraviolet (UV) radiation are repressed by VitD signaling, suggesting that a feedback loop exists whereby VitD deficiency produces increased UV/endorphin-seeking behavior until VitD levels are restored by cutaneous VitD synthesis. This feedback may carry the evolutionary advantage of maximizing VitD synthesis. However, unlike UV exposure, exogenous opioid use is not followed by VitD synthesis (and its opioid suppressive effects), contributing to maladaptive addictive behavior.


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