Does Cigarette Smoking Affect Drug Abuse Treatment?

Abstract

Does quitting cigarette smoking help or hurt the polydrug user in treatment for drug use? Data were obtained from 407 polydrug users in 15 treatment centers in Los Angeles at baseline and one-year follow-up. Measures: Smoking status, reported drug use, urine test results, SF-36 scores, Hopkins SCL, ASI-alcohol use, -drug use, -psychiatric problems, and ad hoc employment-related problems. Results: Most respondents (95%) reported some lifetime smoking. Over one-year follow-up, 29% reported a change in smoking status. At follow-up, stable former smokers reported fewer psychiatric problems than stable current smokers. Change in smoking status was associated with reduced heroin use, but with increased psychiatric problems and employment-related problems. Stable former smokers consistently reported healthier outcomes than either stable regular smokers or status changers, as reflected in somatization, obsessive/compulsive behavior, depression, and anxiety scores. Conclusions: Long-term but not short-term abstinence from tobacco use in polydrug users undergoing treatment is associated with consistently more favorable health outcomes.