INTERRELATIONSHIP OF SMOKING AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, USE AND URGES TOUSE

Objective: The relationship between tobacco dependence and alcohol dep endence has received little empirical scrutiny. The present study of a lcoholics in treatment for alcoholism investigated pre-treatment tobac co and alcohol history and dependence, as well as subjective responsiv ity to alcohol cues. Method: Eighty-three male alcoholics underwent a questionnaire assessment of smoking and drinking pretreatment followed by a laboratory assessment of reactivity to alcohol cues. Results: Th e analyses demonstrate that (1) pretreatment tobacco dependence and pr etreatment alcohol dependence are related, (2) alcohol dependence pred icts urges to smoke during alcohol treatment, (3) exposure to alcohol cues results in increased urge to smoke, (4) smoking when ill predicts urge to drink during alcohol cue exposure and (5) urge to smoke is po sitively correlated with urge to drink. Conclusions: These data, colle cted in a population of alcoholics not currently receiving smoking int erventions, indicate that smoking may be a factor to address during al cohol treatment. The clinical importance of these data is discussed.