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Northeast ATTC Resource Links 2006;5(2):2-5. [Special Issue on Smoking Cessation Treatment and Substance Use Disorders]
Malcolm S. Reid, Ph.D. (New York University School of Medicine, NY Node), Jeffrey A. Selzer, M.D. (North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, LI Node), John Rotrosen, M.D. (New York University School of Medicine, NY Node).
This article provides a brief overview of current research on the treatment of nicotine addiction in substance abuse rehabilitation programs (including research being done in CTN protocol NIDA-CTN-0009, "Smoking Cessation Treatment with Transdermal Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Programs"). The effectiveness of cigarette smoking cessation treatment at substance use disorder programs has been examined and documented in several studies, including the CTN protocol, and these studies have reported quit rates of 10-15% at the end of treatment. While this is somewhat lower than in the general public, the data demonstrate a clinically significant endpoint well worth pursuing. Additionally, the effect of smoking cessation treatment does not appear to be detrimental to substance use disorder treatment outcomes. There is no evidence that drug use disorder severity increases for clients involved in concurrent smoking cessation treatment -- in fact, participants that are smoke-free during treatment and at follow-up are nearly twice as likely to have drug-free urine samples than those that are smoking. There is also no evidence for reduced substance abuse rehabilitation treatment attendance, or greater dropout rates, for patients enrolled in smoking cessation treatment. Overall, research has shown that while implementation of an effective smoking cessation program may not be a quick or easy process, the process can be successful, and the effort expended appears to be well spent for the patients. (Newsletter article, PDF, English, 2006)
 Keywords: Nicotine replacement therapy | Pharmacological therapy | Smoking | Northeast ATTC Resource Links (newsletter)
Document No: 156
Submitted by the John Rotrosen, M.D. (NY Node), 2006. |
