Predictors of health functioning in two high-risk groups of smokers

Abstract The relative and combined health effects of cigarette smoking, heroin use, and depression were examined in 322 clinically depressed smokers and 117 opioid-dependent smokers participating in two studies of the San Francisco Treatment Research Center. Opioid-dependent smokers averaged 16 years (S.D. = 9) of heroin use; 3% of depressed smokers used opiates in the past 6 months. Cigarettes per day ( M  = 15, S.D. = 10) and Beck Depression (BDI-II) scores ( M  = 21, S.D. = 11) were comparable between the two groups. Health functioning was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form ( SF -36). Adjusting for demographic differences, depressed smokers reported better physical but poorer emotional health relative to opioid-dependent smokers. Both groups scored significantly lower than published norms ( p p p