PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Department of Public Health Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR) launched the ‘Heart-to-Heart’ campaign to improve public understanding of the health risks of stimulant use and empower people who’ve used to seek medical care. The ‘Heart-to-Heart’ campaign is the first-ever effort to counsel Philadelphians on the damage that stimulants can do to people’s hearts, which can lead to fatal overdose.
Along with educational messaging about heart health risks, the campaign also tries to connect Philadelphians to low-barrier primary care clinics in their ZIP codes and across the city. In order to help people once they get to the doctor, the ‘Heart-to-Heart’ campaign includes a conversation guide for patients to discuss their stimulant use with their doctor.
A recent analysis done by SUPHR found a strong association between cardiovascular disease and stimulant-involved fatal overdoses. This was especially high among non-Hispanic Black men, a population that has experienced a stark increase in fatal overdoses during the past several years, while fatal overdoses among non-Hispanic White Philadelphians have decreased.
“The City has been working to alleviate the overdose crisis in Philadelphia for years, but we’re seeing the crisis change as it affects more Black and brown Philadelphians,” said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Public Health. “The Heart-to-Heart campaign is one way that we’re addressing the unique threats in these communities, and I’m excited to hear that our residents starting to have these conversations with their healthcare providers.”
“While we are doubling down on proven strategies for preventing opioid overdose deaths, like naloxone and testing strips, those strategies alone may fall short of preventing stimulant-involved overdose deaths,” said Dr. Daniel Teixeira da Silva, Director, SUPHR. “This campaign engaged with communities where we see increasing rates of stimulant-involved overdose deaths to develop the message that stimulant use, current or past, can lead to life-threatening heart disease and there are steps people and their doctors can take to manage those risks. These are communities outside of Kensington, so this campaign is also a reminder that the overdose crisis is not limited to one part of the city.”
There are effective treatments for stimulant use disorder, but they are underutilized. As part of the ‘Heart-to-Heart’ Campaign, SUPHR worked with Penn Medicine to connect area clinicians with evidence-based guidance on managing the risks of cardiovascular disease for patients who use stimulants.
“Telling patients that continuing to use is not good for their health and they should stop doesn’t tend to go very far, but heart health is our bread and butter as primary care doctors,” said Dr. Rachael Truchil, Physician, Penn Medicine. “I try at least once a year for every patient to think critically about their cardiac risk and what might help them to reduce that risk of heart disease. This is where I think we can be especially helpful in working with patients who use stimulants to help them reduce the consequences of their use on their heart and cardiovascular system.”
“It’s important that we give people actionable steps, along with warnings about risks,” SUPHR Director Dr. Teixeira da Silva said. “We want to empower people to protect their health and give them the tools to do it.”
Campaign messaging is focused on North, Southwest, and West Philly, in ten ZIP codes that saw the highest rates of stimulant-involved overdose in 2023. The messaging strategy includes advertisements in SEPTA stations and shelters, environmental ads at corner stores, bars, and other popular businesses within our target ZIP codes, as well as social media and other digital ad placements.
To learn more about stimulant use, heart health, and what the community and healthcare providers need to know, visit SubstanceUsePhilly.com/heart.