Results of a Smoking Cessation Program During a 3-Week Inpatient Addiction - Treatment

Objective We evaluated an inpatient smoking cessation intervention during a 3-week addiction treatment program. Willingness to participate, tobacco consumption and rates of tobacco abstinence as well as the influence of the concurrent tobacco treatment on the abstinence from the comorbid addiction were assessed. Methods 153 smokers were enrolled in this study. 88 patients participated in a smoking cessation program, consisting of a cognitive behavioral group therapy and smoking cessation products. The comparison group comprised nicotine-dependent patients not interested in smoking cessation. 83 % of all recruited patients were alcohol dependent. Results Of all admitted smokers, 32.5% could be motivated to enroll in the concurrent smoking cessation program. Participants in the treatment group were able to significantly decrease their average cigarette consumption at discharge and at follow-up, respectively. 26% and 16% of the patients in the treatment group achieved abstinence at discharge and follow-up, respectively. After 3 months, 42.5% and 42.9% of all dependent patients in the treatment and comparison group remained abstinent from the addiction that had led to hospi-talization. Tobacco abstinence was significantly associated with abstinence from their comorbid addiction. Conclusion Nicotine-dependent patients could be successfully motivated to participate in a smoking cessation program. Patients achieved significant reductions in daily cigarette consumption and a considerable proportion achieved prolonged tobacco abstinence. The concurrent smoking intervention was not associated with increased substance relapse at follow-up.