The Triple Track Times, June 2023
George Kolodner, M.D.
Triple Track Program Launched
During my 50 years treating people with substance use disorders at Kolmac, I was troubled to see the damage done by their continued use of tobacco. Last year I created a new organization that would focus full-time on treating this problem by applying to nicotine what I had learned about effective treatment of other addictive substances. I named the program “Triple Track Treatment” to reflect our three-level approach: biological, psychological, and social.
Triple Track offers two different types of services – both of which are available online. One is a treatment program with a short withdrawal management/stabilization phase followed by an extended relapse prevention phase. Our goal is to improve treatment outcomes for people with nicotine addiction to levels comparable to other substance use disorders. I am encouraged by the progress that our first group of patients has been making during our first year of operation. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this program, please have them sign up here to get started.
The second Triple Track service is a weekly group session called “Talking About Nicotine." It addresses the discrepancy between the high percentage of smokers who want to quit and the low percentage who actually take the step of entering treatment for this problem. The session is designed for people who have concerns about their nicotine and tobacco use but who are not yet ready to commit to quitting. The format is an informational one that aims to correct misinformation and misconceptions about nicotine addiction and the range of treatment options. It is held online every Tuesday at 4pm ET without charge, as a community service.
White House Spotlight on Tobacco
On June 1st, the White House Cancer Moonshot focused its spotlight on tobacco as “the biggest single driver of cancer deaths in this country.”
Taking place inside the White House, an impressive panel of Federal government medical experts noted that tobacco use causes not only 90% of lung cancer but also 30% of all cancers.
What took me by surprise was to hear Dr. Robert Califf, the FDA Commissioner, argue that more intensive treatment programs were needed to help those people for whom the standard smoking cessation programs were not effective. Furthermore, he said that payers should provide financial incentives for those programs to make them more available. To have support of our Triple Track position come from such an authority in the setting of the White House was very welcome.
NIDA Supports Research on Smoking Cessation
Dr. Nora Volkow, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has a longstanding interest in addiction to tobacco and nicotine. In coordination with the Cancer Moonshot session on tobacco, her latest blog summarizes research being done at NIDA in this area. As an outstanding scientist who follows the evidence, Dr. Volkow does not shy away from controversial topics. Her blog, for example, cites evidence that e-cigarettes may be more effective than traditional nicotine replacement medication in helping adults get free from nicotine addiction.
This is important to consider despite the substantial danger that these same devices are posing in creating new nicotine addiction in youth. I will be writing in more detail about the controversy surrounding e-cigarettes in an upcoming Triple Track newsletter.
Reading List
Dr. Kolodner recently published a brief article on, “Tobacco and Nicotine Addictions: A Treatment Opportunity for Psychiatrists” in the Washington Psychiatric Society magazine.
Many countries are struggling with how to deal with e-cigarettes. Read the latest BBC article outlining Australia's approach: “Why Australia decided to quit its vaping habit”
Insurance
Triple Track Treatment is in network with:
Aetna
CareFirst/BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna/Evernorth
Optum
Self-pay options are available as well. Please contact us at info@tripletrack.com for any inquiries.