SMOKING-HABITS AND ATTITUDES IN A METHADONE-MAINTENANCE TREATMENT POPULATION

This study characterized smoking habits and attitudes about quilting i n methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients, with attention to ra ce and gender differences. Of 179 patients surveyed, 92% (n = 165) wer e current smokers. These patients reported smoking a mean of 24.8 ciga rettes per day. Mean age at smoking initiation was 13.6 years with 53% starling at age 13 or younger. The mean Fagerstrom tolerance question naire (FTQ) score was 7.5. Blacks as compared to Whites smoked fewer c igarettes per day (21.6 versus 27.5), had lower expired CO levels (18. 8 versus 21.6 ppm), but higher urinary cotinine levels (1812 versus 14 19 ng/ml) and were more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes (95 versus 46%). Females scored higher than males on the FTQ measure of nicotine dependence (8.0 versus 7.2), and lower than males on a measure of quit smoking self-efficacy. Subjects in the sample as a whole were well aw are of health risks of smoking, as indicated by high scores on health risk perception questions. Sixty-one percent (it = 110) of subjects pl anned to quit within the next 6 months, 57% were 'very interested' in an on-site quit smoking program and 80% expressed interest in using ni cotine replacement products. Overall, these results indicate high rate s of smoking in MMT patients, confirm within a drug abusing population prior findings of racial differences in smoking habits, and suggest t hat MMT patients are interested in quitting and in using nicotine repl acement products. The data support feasibility of implementing smoking cessation treatments with this population in a setting that allows fo r convenient access to patients and close monitoring of progress. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.