In Treatment for Substance Abuse? Kick Your Smoking Habit at the Same Time

By Leslie Davis

Nearly 20 percent of adults in the United States smoke, according to the American Cancer Society. That equates to about 43 million people – a massive number that has been associated with an equally massive impact on public health.

Here are two other enormous (and enormously troubling) health-related statistics to consider:

• About 23 million Americans are in treatment for drug abuse or alcoholism.
• Of that population, between 75 and 95 percent are smokers.

A Deadly Combination

The pervasiveness of smoking among people being treated for substance abuse disorders can lead to dire consequences, according to an article published in the Aug. 27 edition of the journal Psychiatric Times.

“In a frequently cited study conducted over a decade ago, approximately 50 percent of patients who were followed after inpatient substance abuse treatment died of tobacco-related causes – a rate that exceeded deaths from alcohol-related causes (34 percent),” reported the two University of Cincinnati College of Medicine professors who wrote the article.

A significant number of people in treatment for substance abuse are interested in quitting tobacco, and many will take advantage of ending all of their addictions at once. However, smoking cessation may be difficult during early abstinence from other substances, as simultaneous withdrawal from tobacco and other substances may be particularly uncomfortable.

Research has shown that participating in a smoking cessation program almost doubles the likelihood of successful quitting, regardless of whether the person is in active treatment or in recovery. However, participation in smoking cessation programs is higher when treatment is offered at the same time as substance abuse treatment.

Benefits of Quitting

Tobacco smoking is still the No. 1 cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. According to a recent report by the Mayo Clinic, smoking-related diseases and complications resulted in the deaths of an estimated 450,000 people annually between 2000 and 2004.

You likely know the health-related consequences of smoking, but you may not be aware of the many benefits of quitting smoking. For example, within 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure will drop.

Here are some more benefits from the American Heart Association’s website:

• After one year off cigarettes, the excess risk of coronary heart disease caused by smoking is reduced by half. After 15 years of abstinence, the risk is similar to that of people who’ve never smoked.
• In five to 15 years, the risk of stroke for ex-smokers returns to the level of those who’ve never smoked.
• Male smokers who quit between the ages of 35 and 39 add an average of five years to their lives. Female quitters in this age group add three years. Men and women who quit at ages 65 to 69 increase their life expectancy by one year.

How to Quit

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. Nicotine is highly addictive – as addictive as heroin or cocaine – and smokers often become both physically addicted to and dependent on nicotine. Only about 4 to 7 percent of people are able to quit smoking on any given attempt without any medication or other help, according to the American Cancer Society.

But there are ways to quit. And an effective smoking cessation program will result in 20 to 40 percent of participants quitting and staying off cigarettes for at least one year.

An effective cessation program is typically made up of medication and emotional support. Medication usually comes in the form of nicotine replacement therapy and relieves withdrawal symptoms. Medication can involve gums, patches, sprays, lozenges and inhalers, all of which can help you deal with your physical addiction to nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco.

Support & Therapy

Support and therapy are key when it comes to treating your psychological addiction to nicotine. Support from friends and family will be important for encouragement and help beating your habit. Support from others who are also trying to break their smoking addiction can be invaluable, since they can empathize with what you’re going through and you can share stories, successes and setbacks.

Counseling can come in many forms, and is important to helping you get to the root of your addiction. All states offer phone counseling, through which specialists can help you find the method to quit smoking that is best tailored to your unique needs. Phone counseling is particularly convenient because you don’t have to leave your home and you can participate at any time.

You may find one-on-one therapy through a trained professional to be helpful. If you choose this method, be sure to find a professional who specializes in addiction treatment, and find a therapist you feel comfortable with.

Treating Multiple Addictions

Smoking cessation programs may also be offered through residential treatment centers, and may be most effective if you are also working to treat a co-occurring substance abuse addiction.

Realizing the benefits of treating multiple addictions at once, Sierra Tucson, a residential treatment center in Arizona, recently started a smoking cessation group for patients as well as a weekly lecture on the consequences of smoking.

The treatment of nicotine addiction at Sierra Tucson involves the use of nicotine patches and other medications to gradually reduce and eliminate cravings, as well as traditional therapy. Auricular and full-body acupuncture are also used to decrease withdrawal symptoms.

If you are in a substance abuse treatment program or are researching treatment options to help you overcome a dependence upon alcohol or other drugs, this may be the perfect time to also break your addiction to cigarettes.