Helping people with HIV in Nairobi who both smoke and drink cut back or quit
Optimizing Treatment of Co-occurring Smoking and Unhealthy Alcohol use among PWH in Nairobi, Kenya
This project tries counseling plus or minus the medication bupropion to help people with HIV in Nairobi who smoke and misuse alcohol cut back or stop.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194450 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a randomized trial in Nairobi that tests different combinations of counseling and medication to address both smoking and unhealthy alcohol use. Participants are randomly assigned in a 2x2 design to receive the Positively Smoke Free counseling adapted to include alcohol-reduction content and/or bupropion medication. The counseling focuses on strategies to reduce or quit both tobacco and drinking and builds on the team's ongoing work in Nairobi since 2018. The study follows participants over time to measure smoking, drinking, and related health outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV in Nairobi who currently use tobacco and have unhealthy alcohol use are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV, people who only smoke or only drink but do not have co-occurring use, or those who cannot take bupropion would likely not benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help people with HIV stop smoking or reduce risky drinking and lower long-term risks such as aerodigestive cancers and other illnesses.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows counseling and bupropion can aid smoking cessation among people with HIV, but combining alcohol-focused counseling for tobacco–alcohol co-use is a newer approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Himelhoch, Seth S — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Himelhoch, Seth S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.