# Theory-based social media intervention for non-medical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) in young adults

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2024 · $152,275

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Non-medical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) is a timely and significant public health issue in the United
States (US). Young adults are the key population vulnerable to NMUPO. Existing literature indicates that
NMUPO in young adults is influenced by a robust array of psychosocial factors. Tailored interventions guided
by a psychosocial theory, such as the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model, are urgently
needed for addressing NMUPO in young adults. One innovative approach is to reach out to and deliver
psychosocial interventions to young adults via social media technology, yet limited efforts have sought to
develop such interventions for NMUPO among young adults. Thus the scientific objective of this K01 is to
gather data via IMB-guided formative study regarding psychosocial influences on NMPUO and then to use
these findings to inform the development of a peer-led social media intervention designed to reduce NMUPO
among young adults. The career development objective of this K01 is to obtain intensive mentored training
essential to improving the theoretical and practical expertise needed to develop innovative and implementable
peer-led psychosocial interventions for NMUPO in high-risk populations. The training will be supported by the
rigorous and highly productive research environment at the University of South Carolina and by a mentor team
with expertise in addiction treatment, health psychology, peer support group, formative assessment, social
media and psychosocial intervention design, mixed methodology, ecological momentary assessment, as well as
intervention development, implementation, and evaluation. Training progression is linked to three specific
research aims. In Aim 1, we conduct formative research, guided by the IMB model, to explore psychosocial
contents associated with NMUPO in young adults. We then use the findings from Aim 1 to develop a peer-led
social media intervention to reduce NMUPO among young adults (Aim 2) by integrating promising
psychotherapy principles and incorporating with peer leaders who are well-trained for recovery coaching. In
Aim 3, we conduct a pretesting of the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy on NMUPO
reduction and psychosocial changes of the theory-based social media intervention with a 12-week pilot
randomized controlled trial among 70 NMUPO engaging young adults (35 for intervention and 35 for control)
via pre-test, 12-week ecological momentary assessment (during the intervention), and post-tests (12-month
follow-ups). This project will contribute to future largescale and fully-powered psychosocial interventions for
NMUPO among young adults or other high-risk populations using innovative technology that can address
challenges in traditional substance use interventions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10886859
- **Project number:** 1K01DA058768-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Cheuk Chi Tam
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $152,275
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10886859

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10886859, Theory-based social media intervention for non-medical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) in young adults (1K01DA058768-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10886859. Licensed CC0.

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