Quitting Tobacco Associated With Recovery From Other Addictions

Adults who smoke cigarettes and are addicted to alcohol or other drugs were more likely to achieve sustained remission of their substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms if they also quit tobacco, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Based on their analysis of data from a large US study of smoking and health, the researchers believe the results clearly show the benefit of pairing smoking cessation with addiction recovery efforts.

“We now have strong evidence from a national sample that quitting cigarette smoking predicts improved recovery from other substance use disorders,” explained Nora Volkow, MD, director of NIH’s NationalInstitute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which partly funds the study, known as the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. “It underscores the importance of addressing different addictions together, rather than in isolation.”

Scientists analyzed data from 2,652 people 18 and older who had a history of substance use disorder and who experienced a change in their recovery status over the next four years.

Participants in the PATH Study are asked annually about their smoking status and other substance use. In this analysis, a change in smoking status from “current” to “former” use of cigarettes was associated with 42 percent greater odds of the individual being in recovery from their non-tobacco substance use disorder.

People with addiction to alcohol or other substances have a higher likelihood of being addicted to nicotine as well. Previous research has suggested an association between smoking cessation and improved outcomes from other substance use disorders. However, the authors note that most prior studies used data from treatment centers focusing on addiction to a single substance or from smoking cessation trials, and those that used nationally representative samples could not adequately test for an association with recovery. Researchers believe the new finding is generalizable to the millions of adults with substance use disorder and accounts for numerous confounding factors, thus increasing confidence in the results.

“Although the health benefits of quitting smoking are well-known, smoking cessation has not been seen as a high priority in drug addiction treatment programs,” said Wilson Compton, MD, deputy director of NIDA and senior author of the study. “This finding bolsters support for including smoking cessation as part of addiction treatment.”

Although this was a longitudinal analysis that was strongly suggestive that quitting smoking plays a role in improved recovery outcomes from other substance use disorders, further research will be needed to establish a causal connection definitively. Also needed is more research on the best ways to support smoking cessation among people in treatment or recovery for substance use disorders.

The PATH study is an ongoing, nationally representative longitudinal cohort study of youth and adults who may or may not use tobacco products, funded by the NIH and the federal Food and DrugAdministration (FDA).

FOUNDRY STEAMBOAT HELPS CLIENTS QUIT TOBACCO

Foundry Steamboat is a tobacco-free treatment provider that encourages and helps clients stop using tobacco products while receiving treatment for other substance use disorders. As an evidence-based treatment provider with experienced clinicians, Foundry Steamboat knows that smoking cessation is an important opportunity for people receiving treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Foundry Steamboat provides education, support, and can occasionally prescribe medications that reduce craving associated with tobacco cessation.