Feasibility of a social media/online community support group intervention among chronic pain patients on opioid therapy
Open accessAbstract
Aims: Assess whether the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) social media-based support group can engage patients on opioids at risk for misuse/overdose to discuss risk reduction strategies.Methods: Fifty-one patients on chronic opioid therapy and risk factors for aberrant medication-taking behaviors were randomized to a HOPE intervention or control (Facebook) group.Results: Compared to control group participants, intervention participants had almost 10 times higher posting engagement (n = 411 posts versus 45; 73% versus 52% of participants). Participants discussed coping, pain, medication and non-medication treatments, and other opioid and addiction-related topics.Discussion: Results suggest that a HOPE online community might serve as an effective behavioral intervention tool among chronic pain patients on opioid therapy.
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During the follow-up period of almost 2-years, the studies showed a significantly higher incidence of suicide and overdose death within the first three months among those tapering off opioids compared with those who were newly started and who continued taking prescription opioids.
“During the follow-up period of almost 2-years, the studies showed a significantly higher incidence of suicide and overdose death within the first three months among those tapering off opioids compared with those who were newly started and who continued taking prescription opioids.”
From Risk Factors for Self-Harm Ideation among Persons Treated with Opioids for Chronic Low Back Pain (2023) · cites this paper as [63]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThere has been a call for better pain education among providers, increased use of social media, incorporation of online peer education and support, and daily monitoring of persons with opioid-treated chronic pain using innovative technology.
“There has been a call for better pain education among providers,72 increased use of social media, incorporation of online peer education and support,73,74 and daily monitoring of persons with opioid-treated chronic pain using innovative technology.75–77”
From Risk Factors for Self-Harm Ideation among Persons Treated with Opioids for Chronic Low Back Pain (2023) · cites this paper as [76]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn large retrospective studies conducted through the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Department of Veterans Affairs, incidence of overdose or suicide death among individuals who were started compared with those who discontinued opioid therapy was documented.
“In large retrospective studies conducted through the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Department of Veterans Affairs,62, 63 incidence of overdose or suicide death among individuals who were started compared with those who discontinued opioid therapy was documented.”
From Risk Factors for Self-Harm Ideation among Persons Treated with Opioids for Chronic Low Back Pain (2023) · cites this paper as [63]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Young, S. D., Koussa, M., Lee, S.-J., Perez, H., Gill, N., Gelberg, L., & Heinzerling, K.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Young, Sean D.
- Venue
- Journal of Addictive Diseases
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-04-03
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 96-101
- ISSN
- 1055-0887 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-0848
- PMC
- PMC6551263
- OpenAlex
- W2908475043
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 4.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Addictive Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Drug Abuse (R21DA039458)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R56AI125105 and 1R01AI1320200)
- National Human Genome Research Institute (HG008488)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Keywords
- chronic pain, opioid therapy, social media, online support groups, peer education, opioid misuse, opioid overdose risk, risk mitigation strategies, Facebook, patient engagement, behavioral interventions, addiction
- MeSH terms
- Drug Misuse, Adolescent, Adult, Analgesics, Opioid, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Peer Group, Self-Help Groups, Young Adult, Chronic Pain, Pain Management, Social Media, Drug Overdose
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