Add-on effect of a smoke-quitting program in alcohol-addicted patients

Introduction- Patients suffering from alcohol addiction often are smokers too, but their rehab programs are generally targeted to treat only drinking habits. We wanted to see whether, adding a smoke-quitting program to the usual alcohol rehab program to patients suffering from alcohol and nicotine dependency, could in some way influence the final outcome. Methods - during a 12-month period, all patients admitted to a residential alcohol-rehab program received an additional 4-hours educational smoke quitting program held by a pulmonologist, a behavioral therapist, a dietician and a psychologist. One year later all patients underwent a telephone interview in order to verify how their habits toward alcohol and smoke were changed. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis. Results – 67 patients with double dependency underwent alcohol and smoke rehab programs and completed follow-up; after 12 months 61% still abstained from alcohol, and, comparing patients who abstained with those who did not, we found that abstinence from alcohol increased the probability to change smoking habits (69% versus 42%, p