A case for addressing cigarette use in methadone and other opioid treatment programs

Most persons attending drug treatment smoke cigarettes. They will eventuall y experience predictable, but devastatingly high, tobacco-related mortality . Recent studies indicate that many clients are ready to quit smoking and t hat quitting does not threaten progress made in treatment. Methadone and ot her opioid treatment providers are in an excellent position to address toba cco use among their clients. The present paper describes the prevalence of smoking among methadone clients, reviews promising interventions, and descr ibes how programs can implement a systematic approach to smoking cessation that includes creating a cue system for identifying smokers, providing brie f on-site intervention, and arranging follow-up or more intensive treatment .