Afolabi Oyapero from Nigeria received the 2024 College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) International Committee Award for Best International Research Poster. The award was presented onsite at this year’s NIDA International Forum and CPDD joint workshop of the International Research Poster session.
The poster — “Smoking behavior, correlates of Quit success and perception of dentists’ role in cessation interventions among past and current smokers in Lagos, Nigeria” — presented findings from a study that explored the potential for dental clinics to help people quit smoking. While there are effective interventions to support smoking cessation, there are disparities in access to this care. This prospective, behavioral study characterized smoking behaviors among new adult dental patients with a smoking history at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. The study found that most of the study cohort was highly motivated to quit smoking; however, access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) among participants was limited. Female patients, those with low nicotine dependence, and those with health problems related to smoking had higher odds of achieving abstinence. Overall, the findings suggest that dental clinics can be key environments to support individuals trying to quit smoking. To incorporate these findings into practice, dentists may proactively ask patients about smoking behavior, offer advice, and provide NRTs to patients when appropriate.
In addition to Afolabi, two Honorable Mention winners were awarded this year: Manmeet Kaur (India) and Jean Michel Iyamuremye (Rwanda). Manmeet presented a poster that characterized the effects of buprenorphine on the brain’s stress response. Jean Michel’s poster described findings from a study that comprehensively explored the clinical and demographic attributes of inpatient substance use disorder patients.