Philadelphia Launches Campaign to Address Substance Use and Heart Health

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has launched a new campaign aimed at addressing the impact of substance use on heart health. This initiative, organized by the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR), provides residents with the necessary tools to engage in meaningful discussions with health care providers about the effects of stimulants on cardiovascular health.

The campaign seeks to educate Philadelphians on heart health and the additional risk factors associated with stimulant use. It aims to connect individuals to accessible primary care resources and clinics located throughout the city. According to Dr. Daniel Teixeira da Silva, director of SUPHR, the groundwork for this initiative has been laid over the past few years, focusing on developing effective communication strategies for clinicians to discuss heart health with their patients.

Dr. Teixeira da Silva emphasized the importance of having patients consider how to initiate conversations regarding heart health and drug use with their doctors. The campaign’s website offers resources, including conversation starters, to facilitate these discussions. For individuals without a primary care provider, the site also lists clinics with walk-in hours, specifically targeting areas with high occurrences of stimulant overdoses.

This initiative marks the first time the department has actively sought to inform residents about the potential damage stimulants can inflict on heart health, which can lead to life-threatening overdose situations.

The campaign is particularly relevant given the current statistics on stimulant use in Philadelphia. A recent study conducted by the health department revealed troubling trends in overdose deaths. While there has been a 19% decline in overdose deaths among white residents from 2019 to 2023, fatalities among the city’s Black population have surged by 61% in the same period. Notably, 80% of the reported deaths involved stimulant use.

Recent city data indicates that although overall overdose deaths decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year, the reduction was more pronounced among white residents at 15% than among Black residents, who only saw a 6% decrease. The areas most affected by stimulant-related overdoses are primarily located in the North, West, and Southwest regions of Philadelphia.

In 2023, the average age of Black men who died from a stimulant overdose was 52 years, which is notably older than the average age of those who succumbed to opioid overdoses.

Stimulants, commonly referred to as “uppers,” are drugs that accelerate the central nervous system’s functions. They encompass a range of substances, from everyday items like coffee to prescribed medications such as Adderall, as well as illicit drugs like cocaine and crystal methamphetamine. Prolonged use of these stimulants can increase heart rate, elevate blood pressure, and ultimately contribute to addiction, which may lead to various heart diseases or even heart failure.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s campaign not only aims to raise awareness but also provides a wealth of additional resources on its website for those seeking information on stimulant use and its impacts.

Through this initiative, the department emphasizes the importance of dialogue between patients and healthcare providers, aiming to improve heart health outcomes in the community.

For more information and resources, residents are encouraged to visit the campaign’s website.