Smoking Cessation Linked to Recovery From Other Substance Use Disorders
People who stop smoking may have an easier time quitting other drugs, according to a new cohort study from National Institute on Drug Abuse researchers who analyzed data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, an ongoing nationally representative annual survey.
Nearly 2700 adult participants with a history of substance use disorders were categorized as either current, former, or never smokers. Recovery from other substance use disorders (SUDs) was defined as a remission from symptoms within the past 12 months. Compared with those who remained current smokers, individuals initially classified as current smokers who became former smokers were 30% more likely to report recovery from other SUDs when controlling for other time-varying covariates.
According to the authors of the study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, these within-person results strengthen the case for integrating antismoking interventions within other recovery programs and addressing smoking among those who do not seek treatment for SUD.