Predictors of Smoking Behavior and Readiness to Quit in Addiction Treatment

Background: Prevalence of tobacco use is 3 times higher for those seeking substance abuse treatment than those in the general population. Clinical practice guidelines recommend addressing smoking cessation. This population has more difficulty quitting than the general population. Methods: This paper analyzes predictors of smoking behavior and readiness to quit in patients enrolled in addiction treatment programs. Data from six substance abuse treatment centers was collected. A total of 235 clients were surveyed on their smoking attitudes and behaviors. Results: Survey data from 139 current smokers was analyzed. In logistic regression analyses predicting readiness to quit smoking, and controlling for cigarettes per day, and demographic variables, smoking attitudes, perceived risk of lung cancer and awareness of FDA tobacco regulations were significant predictors. Only smoking attitude was significant, controlling for demographic variables, when predicting cigarettes per day. There was an inverse relationship with FDA awareness when predicting readiness to quit. Future analyses will be needed to look at FDA awareness and readiness to quit since this was not an expected outcome. Conclusions: Smoking attitudes and perceived self-risk for lung cancer were significant predictors of readiness to quit and cigarettes per day. Improving attitudes toward smoking cessation and increasing perceptions about health risks may help programs address quitting in this population

Barriers and solutions to addressing tobacco dependence in addiction treatment programs.

Despite the high prevalence of tobacco use among people with substance use disorders, tobacco dependence is often overlooked in addiction treatment programs. Several studies and a meta-analytic review have concluded that patients who receive tobacco dependence treatment during addiction treatment have better overall substance abuse treatment outcomes compared with those who do not. Barriers that contribute to the lack of attention given to this important problem include staff attitudes about and use of tobacco, lack of adequate staff training to address tobacco use, unfounded fears among treatment staff and administration regarding tobacco policies, and limited tobacco dependence treatment resources. Specific clinical-, program-, and system-level changes are recommended to fully address the problem of tobacco use among alcohol and other drug abuse patients

Frontal Metabolite Concentration Deficits in Opiate Dependence Relate to Substance Use, Cognition, and Self-Regulation.

ObjectiveProton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) in opiate dependence showed abnormalities in neuronal viability and glutamate concentration in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Metabolite levels in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and their neuropsychological correlates have not been investigated in opiate dependence.MethodsSingle-volume proton MRS at 4 Tesla and neuropsychological testing were conducted in 21 opiate-dependent individuals (OD) on buprenorphine maintenance therapy. Results were compared to 28 controls (CON) and 35 alcohol-dependent individuals (ALC), commonly investigated treatment-seekers providing context for OD evaluation. Metabolite concentrations were measured from ACC, DLPFC, OFC and parieto-occipital cortical (POC) regions.ResultsCompared to CON, OD had lower concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate (Glu), creatine +phosphocreatine (Cr) and myo-Inositol (mI) in the DLPFC and lower NAA, Cr, and mI in the ACC. OD, ALC, and CON were equivalent on metabolite levels in the POC and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration did not differ between groups in any region. In OD, prefrontal metabolite deficits in ACC Glu as well as DLPFC NAA and choline containing metabolites (Cho) correlated with poorer working memory, executive and visuospatial functioning; metabolite deficits in DLPFC Glu and ACC GABA and Cr correlated with substance use measures. In the OFC of OD, Glu and choline-containing metabolites were elevated and lower Cr concentration related to higher nonplanning impulsivity. Compared to 3 week abstinent ALC, OD had significant DLPFC metabolite deficits.ConclusionThe anterior frontal metabolite profile of OD differed significantly from that of CON and ALC. The frontal lobe metabolite abnormalities in OD and their neuropsychological correlates may play a role in treatment outcome and could be explored as specific targets for improved OD treatment

Predictors of quit attempts among smokers enrolled in substance abuse treatment

Introduction: This study investigates factors predicting past year quit attempts among smokers enrolled in substance abuse treatment in New York State. Methods: Data were drawn from two prior cross-sectional surveys conducted among clients treated in 10 randomly selected substance abuse treatment programs. Among 820 clients recruited, 542 self-identified as current smokers, and 485 provided information about their quit attempts. The main outcome was reporting a quit smoking attempt in the past year, dichotomized as quit attempters or non-quit attempters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore predictors of attempting to quit. Results: Half of substance abuse clients in treatment programs reported a past year quit attempt. Quit attempters were more likely to be in a preparation and contemplation stage of change (preparation: OR = 2.68,95% CI: 1.51-4.77; contemplation: OR = 2.96 95% CI: 1.61-5.42), reported more positive attitudes toward quitting (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.11-1.99) and received more cessation services than non-quit attempters (OR = 1.21; 95% Cl: 1.11-1.99). Conclusions: Addressing patient attitudes about quitting smoking, having clinicians address smoking in the course of addiction treatment, and offering interventions to increase readiness to quit may contribute to increased quit attempts in smokers enrolled in addiction treatment programs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Comparing client and staff reports on tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and services provided in substance use treatment

INTRODUCTION Smoking is highly prevalent in substance use disorder (SUD) programs, but few studies have explored the tobacco-related attitudes of staff and clients in the same program. The aim of this study was to compare staff and client reports on 10 tobacco-related items and associate them with tobacco measures implemented in the programs. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 18 residential SUD programs from 2019 to 2020. Overall, 534 clients and 183 clinical staff self-reported their tobacco use, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices/services regarding smoking cessation. Ten comparable items were asked of both clients and staff. Differences in their responses were tested using bivariate analyses. We examine the association between selected tobacco-related items on making a quit attempt and planning to quit in the next 30 days. RESULTS In all, 63.7% of clients were current cigarette users versus 22.9% of staff. About half of clinicians (49.4%) said they had the skills to help patients quit smoking, while only 34.0% of clients thought their clinicians had these skills (p=0.003). About 28.4% of staff reported encouraging their patients to use nicotine replacement treatment (NRT), and 23.4% of patients said they had been encouraged to use these products. Client reports of planning a quit attempt were positively correlated with whether both staff and clients reported that the use of higher percentage of smokers planned a quit attempt. Tobacco-related training among staff, and communication about tobacco use with clients, should be improved to make tobacco services more visible and accessible in SUD treatment

Association of Medicaid Expansion and Health Insurance with Receipt of Smoking Cessation Services and Smoking Behaviors in Substance Use Disorder Treatment.

This study examined whether living in a Medicaid-expanded state or having health insurance was associated with receipt of smoking cessation services or smoking behaviors among substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clients. In 2015 and 2016, 1702 SUD clients in 14 states were surveyed for health insurance status, smoking cessation services received in their treatment program, and smoking behaviors. Services and behaviors were then compared by state Medicaid expansion and health insurance status independently. Clients in Medicaid-expanded states were more likely to be insured (89.9% vs. 54.4%, p < 0.001) and to have quit smoking during treatment (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI = 2.47, 5.76). Insured clients had higher odds of being screened for smoking status in their treatment program and making quit attempts in the past year. Medicaid expansion supports greater health insurance coverage of individuals in SUD treatment and may enhance smoking cessation

Tobacco use among substance use disorder (SUD) treatment staff is associated with tobacco-related services received by clients

Background: Despite disproportionately high rates of smoking among people in residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, few receive tobacco cessation services. Little is known about how smoking among treatment staff may impact this disparity. We explored the relationship between staff tobacco use and client tobacco use. Additionally, we examined the relationship between staff tobacco use and tobacco-related services reported by staff and clients. Methods: Staff (n = 363) and clients (n = 639) in 24 California publicly-funded residential SUD treatment programs were surveyed in 2019-20. Staff self-reported current tobacco use, as well as their beliefs, self-efficacy, and practices regarding smoking cessation. Clients reported their tobacco use and they services received while in treatment. Regression analyses examined the adjusted and unadjusted associations between staff and client tobacco use and other outcomes. Results: Use of any tobacco product by staff ranged from 0% to 100% by program, with an average of 32% across programs. Adjusted analyses found that higher rates of staff tobacco use were associated with higher rates of client tobacco use, and with fewer clients receiving tobacco-related counseling. In programs that had higher rates of staff tobacco use, staff were less likely to believe that clients should quit smoking in treatment and had lower self-efficacy to address smoking. Conclusion: Higher rates of tobacco use among staff are associated with higher rates of client tobacco use and fewer clients receiving cessation counseling. Efforts to reduce tobacco use among SUD clients should be supported by efforts to reduce tobacco use among staff. SUD treatment programs, and agencies that fund and regulate those programs, should aim to reduce the use of tobacco products among staff

Tobacco Cessation Services in Addiction Treatment: What Do Clients Say?

ObjectiveSpecialty addiction programs treat people who are addicted to alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. This study identified the proportion of addiction program clients who received tobacco-related services and factors associated with receipt of such services.MethodsIn 2015 and 2016, clients (N=2,119) in 24 programs were surveyed for receipt of services aligning with three of the five As of tobacco cessation: ask, advise, assist. Multivariate analyses examined factors associated with receipt of each service.ResultsMost clients (76%) were asked about smoking. Among smokers (N=1,630), 53% were advised to quit, 41% received counseling, 26% received cessation medication, and 17% received counseling and medication. Clients were more likely to receive tobacco-related services if they wanted help quitting smoking or were enrolled in programs with tobacco-free grounds.ConclusionsThese correlational findings suggest that increasing client motivation to quit and implementing tobacco-free policies on the grounds of treatment centers may increase tobacco-related services in addiction treatment

An International Systematic Review of Smoking Prevalence in Addiction Treatment

Aims: Smoking prevalence is higher among people enrolled in addiction treatment compared with the general population, and very high rates of smoking are associated with opiate drug use and receipt of opiate replacement therapy (ORT). We assessed whether these findings are observed internationally. Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO and the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Science Database were searched for papers reporting smoking prevalence among addiction treatment samples, published in English, from 1987 to 2013. Search terms included tobacco use, cessation and substance use disorders using and/or Boolean connectors. For 4549 papers identified, abstracts were reviewed by multiple raters; 239 abstracts met inclusion criteria and these full papers were reviewed for exclusion. Fifty-four studies, collectively comprising 37364 participants, were included. For each paper we extracted country, author, year, sample size and gender, treatment modality, primary drug treated and smoking prevalence. Results: The random-effect pooled estimate of smoking across people in addiction treatment was 84% [confidence interval (CI)=79, 88%], while the pooled estimate of smoking prevalence across matched population samples was 31% (CI=29, 33%). The difference in the pooled estimates was 52% (CI=48%, 57%, P<.0001). Smoking rates were higher in programs treating opiate use compared with alcohol use [odds ratio (OR)=2.52, CI=2.00, 3.17], and higher in ORT compared to out-patient programs (OR=1.42, CI=1.19, 1.68). Conclusions: Smoking rates among people in addiction treatment are more than double those of people with similar demographic characteristics. Smoking rates are also higher in people being treated for opiate dependence compared with people being treated for alcohol use disorder

Passive exposure and perceptions of smoke-free policies in hospital and university campuses among nursing students: A cross-sectional multicenter study

INTRODUCTION Outdoor smoke-free regulations reduce exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and help to denormalize tobacco use. As future key agents in health promotion, nursing students’ attitudes should agree with tobacco-control policies.The bjectives of this study were: 1) assess nursing students’ exposure to SHS in nursing schools, 2) explore their perceptions of compliance with the existing smoke-free regulations in acute-care hospitals; and 3) describe their support for indoor and outdoor smoking bans on hospital and university campuses. METHODS This was a cross-sectional multicenter study conducted in 2015–2016 in all 15 university nursing schools in Catalonia, Spain. A questionnaire gathered information on SHS exposure, awareness of the smoke-free regulation in acutecare hospitals, and support for smoke-free policies in indoor and outdoor areas of hospitals and university campuses. Participants were nursing students attending classes on the day of the survey. We performed descriptive analyses and calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Of 4381 respondents, 99.1% had seen people smoking in outdoor areas of their university campus, and 75.2% had been exposed to SHS on the campus (6.0% indoors and 69.2% outdoors). Nearly 60% were aware of the smoking regulation in place in acute-care hospitals. There was widespread support for smoke-free indoor hospital regulation (98.7%), but less support (64.8%) for outdoor regulations. Approximately 33% supported the regulation to make outdoor healthcare campuses smoke-free, which was higher among third-year students compared to first-year students (APR=1.41; 95% CI: 1.24–1.62), among never smokers (41.4%; APR=2.84; 95% CI: 2.21–3.64) compared to smokers, and among those who were aware of the regulation (38.4%; 95% CI: 1.37–1.75). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to SHS on university campuses is high. Nursing students express low support for strengthening outdoor smoking bans on hospital and university campuses. Interventions aiming to increase their support should be implemented