A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration encouraged support for cigarette smokers who are in drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The report said that more drug treatment centers are offering nicotine-replacement therapy to patients. There has been debate over whether drug treatment centers should even attempt to tackle nicotine addiction.
In 2006, only 13 percent of drug treatment centers offered nicotine-replacement therapy. In 2009, 19 percent of drug treatment centers offered nicotine-replacement therapy. Treatment programs based in hospitals were much more likely to provide such therapy compared with residential drug treatment centers and outpatient treatment programs. People who use nicotine-replacement therapy are twice as likely as non-users to stop smoking cigarettes.
It has been found that people in drug treatment programs are more likely to smoke than people in the general population. Some people start smoking while in drug treatment. They explain it as a substitute for the substance they are attempting to quit. Other people claim smoking is a way to relieve stress.
"By helping individuals in treatment say no to cigarettes – we are helping them to take an important step towards a healthier more productive life," said Pamela S. Hyde, the director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The percentage ofdrug treatment centers offering nicotine-replacement therapy to clients increased between 2006 and 2009. As of 2009, 2,613 (19 percent) of 13,513 drug treatment centers surveyed were offering nicotine-replacement therapy.
Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of death. Smoking causes about 440,000 deaths each year in the United States. Almost half of these deaths occur among people with mental and substance use disorders.
