Karen P Hayhurst1, Andrew Jones2, Donal Cairns3, Stefan Jahr3, Elin Williams4, Brian Eastwood5, Tim Millar6. 1. Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, karen.hayhurst@manchester.ac.uk. 2. I3HS Hub, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. 3. Centre for Epidemiology, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. 4. Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. 5. Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Justice, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom. 6. Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The prevalence of tobacco smoking among individuals receiving treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) remains high. Respiratory disease and other harms are of prime concern to health policy-makers, given the contributory role played by tobacco smoking in the excess rates of premature mortality seen in individuals with SUD. The aim was to use SUD treatment data to investigate tobacco smoking prevalence among subgroups of adults over the course of treatment. METHODS: We used the English National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) to examine number of days tobacco had been smoked in the previous month in adults receiving SUD treatment (N = 106,472, median length of treatment 157 days). RESULTS: At baseline (treatment start), 48.7% reported smoking tobacco; the highest rate was observed in opiate users (61%). Overall, the level of smoking at the latest assessment was 48.5%. Reductions (of between 5 and 7%) were observed among those who finished treatment but only within the final stages of treatment. A 5% increase in smoking was observed in those still in treatment within the study timeframe. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the potential for a greater emphasis on reducing tobacco consumption within SUD treatment, for example, by offering all smokers within SUD treatment smoking cessation support as part of their SUD treatment programme.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The prevalence of tobacco smoking among individuals receiving treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) remains high. Respiratory disease and other harms are of prime concern to health policy-makers, given the contributory role played by tobacco smoking in the excess rates of premature mortality seen in individuals with SUD. The aim was to use SUD treatment data to investigate tobacco smoking prevalence among subgroups of adults over the course of treatment. METHODS: We used the English National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) to examine number of days tobacco had been smoked in the previous month in adults receiving SUD treatment (N = 106,472, median length of treatment 157 days). RESULTS: At baseline (treatment start), 48.7% reported smoking tobacco; the highest rate was observed in opiate users (61%). Overall, the level of smoking at the latest assessment was 48.5%. Reductions (of between 5 and 7%) were observed among those who finished treatment but only within the final stages of treatment. A 5% increase in smoking was observed in those still in treatment within the study timeframe. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the potential for a greater emphasis on reducing tobacco consumption within SUD treatment, for example, by offering all smokers within SUD treatment smoking cessation support as part of their SUD treatment programme.