I’ve completed a monograph that calls for change in the addiction treatment arena. It focuses on our need to modify our settings and services to a tobacco-free and smoke-free model of care.
This post is the second in a small series of excerpts from the monograph. The intent of posting these excerpts is to build interest among readers in the topic and in reading the monograph itself.
Below, as installment # 2 in the lead-up to the full monograph, is a small sub-section simply called “Quitting”, followed by the Acknowledgements and Disclaimer.
The next installment in this introductory series will come out on Wednesday August 20, 2025.
Quitting
Most people want to quit. Most people who use tobacco try to quit each year, yet without a tobacco-free environment and treatment, few are successful.[1] People with behavioral health conditions who use tobacco are just as interested in quitting as people without.[2] For efficacy in quitting it is important to receive quit coaching and medication that will lessen stress and make quitting for good two times more likely.[3] Quitting smoking lowers overall stress after about 1-3 weeks with effects similar to an anti-depressant.[4] Becoming tobacco free is associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as improved positive mood and quality of life compared with continuing to smoke.[5], [6]
[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA.
[2] Prochaska JJ, Das S, Young-Wolff KC. Smoking, Mental Illness, and Public Health. Annu Rev Public Health. 2017 Mar 20;38:165-185. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044618.
[3] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA.
[4] Taylor G, McNeill A, Girling A, Farley A, Lindson-Hawley N, Aveyard P. Change in mental health after smoking cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2014 Feb 13;348:g1151. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g1151. Erratum in: BMJ. 2014;348:g2216.
[5] Prochaska JJ, Hall SM, Bero LA. Tobacco use among individuals with schizophrenia: what role has the tobacco industry played? Schizophr Bull. 2008 May;34(3):555-67. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbm117.
[6] drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2014/10/smoking-cessation-does-not-interfere-recovery-substance-use.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following people for their review of earlier drafts of this manuscript and providing their feedback, suggestions and encouragement: Kim Bayha, Sandy Ellingson, Trina Fullard, Bob Lynn, Philip T. McCabe, David McCartney, Joseph Najdzion, Jason Schwartz, Mary H. Ward, and William L. White.
Disclaimer
Nothing in this document should be taken or held as clinical instruction, clinical supervision
Recovery Review 