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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 May 1;122(3):186-94.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.09.026. Epub 2011 Oct 19.

Intensive intervention for alcohol-dependent smokers in early recovery: a randomized trial

Timothy P Carmody  1 , Kevin Delucchi, Carol L Duncan, Peter Banys, Joel A Simon, Sharon N Solkowitz, Joy Huggins, Sharon K Lee, Sharon M Hall
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Intensive intervention for alcohol-dependent smokers in early recovery: a randomized trial

Timothy P Carmody et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an intensive tobacco cessation intervention for alcohol-dependent smokers in early recovery.

Methods: A total of 162 alcohol-dependent smokers were randomized to either intensive intervention for smoking cessation or usual care. The intensive intervention consisted of 16 sessions of individual cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and combination nicotine replacement therapy that lasted 26 weeks. Usual care involved referral to a free-standing smoking cessation program that provided smoking cessation counseling of varying duration and guideline-concordant medications. The primary cessation outcome was verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 12, 26, 38, and 52 weeks.

Results: At 12 and 26 weeks, the verified 7-day point-prevalence quit rate was significantly higher for the intensive intervention group than for the usual care group (both p=0.03). However, the quit rates for the two treatment groups were not significantly different at 38 or 52 weeks. Verified 30-day alcohol abstinence rates were not significantly different for the two treatment groups at any of the follow-up assessments.

Conclusions: The intensive smoking cessation intervention yielded a higher short-term smoking quit rate without jeopardizing sobriety. A chronic care model might facilitate maintenance of smoking cessation during the first year of alcohol treatment and perhaps for longer periods of time. It is hoped that studies such as this will inform the development of more effective interventions for concurrent alcohol and tobacco use disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

There are no disclosures for any authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort Flow Chart
Figure 2
Figure 2
Verified point prevalence abstinence rates by treatment condition and time.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean number of cigarettes (left panel) and CO levels by treatment condition and time.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Verified point prevalence abstinence rates by treatment condition, time and history of mood disorder.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Percent abstinent from alcohol by treatment condition
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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