People recovering from alcohol and drug addiction may improve their chances of long-term recovery by quitting smoking, according to new research published in JAMA Psychiatry.
The study, led by scientists at the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), analysed data from more than 2,600 adults who had a history of substance use disorder. Participants were followed for four years as part of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a long-term national survey that tracks tobacco and substance use.
Researchers found that individuals who quit smoking were 42% more likely to recover from non-tobacco-related substance use disorders compared with those who continued to smoke. The findings highlight the strong link between nicotine addiction and other forms of substance dependence.
“Quitting smoking predicts improved recovery from other substance use disorders,” said Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA Director. “This emphasises the importance of treating different addictions together, rather than in isolation.”
Dr. Wilson Compton, NIDA’s Deputy Director and lead author of the study, added that while the health benefits of quitting smoking are well known, smoking cessation has often been overlooked in drug treatment programmes. “These findings reinforce the need to make smoking cessation a standard part of addiction care,” he said.
While the results provide strong evidence of the benefits of quitting smoking, the researchers cautioned that more studies are needed to confirm a causal relationship and to determine the most effective strategies to help people in recovery stop smoking.
Source: Medical Xpress