Endre Dahlen Bjørnestad1,2, John-Kåre Vederhus3, Thomas Clausen4,3. 1. Addiction Unit, Sørlandet Hospital HF, Po. box 416, N-4604, Kristiansand, Norway. endre.dahlen.bjornestad@sshf.no. 2. Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research (SERAF), University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, N-0407, Oslo, Norway. endre.dahlen.bjornestad@sshf.no. 3. Addiction Unit, Sørlandet Hospital HF, Po. box 416, N-4604, Kristiansand, Norway. 4. Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research (SERAF), University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, N-0407, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Smoking is a well-documented cause of health problems among individuals with substance use disorders. For patients in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), the risk for somatic health problems, including preventable diseases associated with tobacco smoking, increases with age. Our aim was to describe smoking among patients entering substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, investigate changes in smoking from the start of treatment to 1-year follow-up, and explore factors related to smoking cessation. METHODS: We employed data from the Norwegian Cohort of Patient in Opioid Maintenance Treatment and Other Drug Treatment Study (NorComt). Participants were 335 patients entering SUD treatment at 21 participating facilities across Norway. They were interviewed at the start of treatment and at 1-year follow-up. The main outcomes were smoking and smoking cessation by treatment modality. A logistic regression identified factors associated with smoking cessation. RESULTS: High levels of smoking were reported at the start of treatment in both OMT (94%) and other SUD inpatient treatment patients (93%). At 1-year follow-up most patients in OMT were still smoking (87%), and the majority of the inpatients were still smoking (69%). Treatment as an inpatient was positively associated and higher age was negatively associated with smoking cessation. Most patients who quit smoking transitioned to smokeless tobacco or kept their existing smokeless habit. CONCLUSION: As illustrated by the high smoking prevalence and relatively low cessation levels in our sample, an increased focus on smoking cessation for patients currently in OMT and other SUD treatment is warranted. Harm-reduction oriented smoking interventions may be relevant.
BACKGROUND: Smoking is a well-documented cause of health problems among individuals with substance use disorders. For patients in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), the risk for somatic health problems, including preventable diseases associated with tobacco smoking, increases with age. Our aim was to describe smoking among patients entering substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, investigate changes in smoking from the start of treatment to 1-year follow-up, and explore factors related to smoking cessation. METHODS: We employed data from the Norwegian Cohort of Patient in Opioid Maintenance Treatment and Other Drug Treatment Study (NorComt). Participants were 335 patients entering SUD treatment at 21 participating facilities across Norway. They were interviewed at the start of treatment and at 1-year follow-up. The main outcomes were smoking and smoking cessation by treatment modality. A logistic regression identified factors associated with smoking cessation. RESULTS: High levels of smoking were reported at the start of treatment in both OMT (94%) and other SUD inpatient treatment patients (93%). At 1-year follow-up most patients in OMT were still smoking (87%), and the majority of the inpatients were still smoking (69%). Treatment as an inpatient was positively associated and higher age was negatively associated with smoking cessation. Most patients who quit smoking transitioned to smokeless tobacco or kept their existing smokeless habit. CONCLUSION: As illustrated by the high smoking prevalence and relatively low cessation levels in our sample, an increased focus on smoking cessation for patients currently in OMT and other SUD treatment is warranted. Harm-reduction oriented smoking interventions may be relevant.
Authors: Lauren Arancini; Ron Borland; Michael Le Grande; Mohammadreza Mohebbi; Seetal Dodd; Olivia M Dean; Michael Berk; Ann McNeill; Geoffrey T Fong; K Michael Cummings Journal: Addiction Date: 2021-03-23 Impact factor: 7.256