Quitting Smoking Boosts Recovery Odds in Substance Use Disorders: JAMA
A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that the necessity of including smoking cessation into addiction treatment programs is demonstrated by the 30% increased chance of recovery from non-tobacco addictions among smokers with drug use disorders who stopped cigarettes.
People with other substance use disorders (SUDs) are more likely to smoke cigarettes than people without SUDs. However, SUD treatment centers frequently lack smoking cessation programs. Thus, to validate if switching from present to past smoking is linked to sustained SUD recovery, this study was carried out to evaluate smoking status and SUD recovery across time.
Using data from the PATH (Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health) research, a nationally representative cohort of US people with a history of SUD participated in this cohort research. In the United States, the PATH Study is a continuous longitudinal cohort study that is nationally representative.
Adults (≥18 years old) in the wave 1 cohort (hired in 2013/2014) who were evaluated yearly for 4 years until wave 4 (2016/2018) were included in the analyses. Sensitivity analysis also evaluated a second nationally representative cohort (2016/2018–2023).
Data analysis was finished between June and September of 2024. Using the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs–Short Screener SUD subscale, the main outcome was SUD recovery, which was defined as either high lifetime SUD symptoms with no past-year symptoms or high lifetime SUD symptoms with any past-year symptoms.
The mean age of 2,652 adults from 2013/2014 to 2016/2018 was 39.4 years (95% CI, 38.7-40.3), and 41.9% of participants (95% CI, 39.4%-44.4%) were female.
13.9% (95% CI, 12.2%-15.6%) of participants were non-Hispanic Black, 63.1% (95% CI, 60.4%-65.7%) were non-Hispanic White, 17.0% (95% CI, 15.3%-18.9%) were Hispanic, and 6.0% (95% CI, 4.9%-7.4%) were another non-Hispanic race (Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Native American/Alaska Native, more than one race).
After controlling for time-varying covariates and between-person variations, there was a positive correlation between SUD recovery and within-person change from current to former smoking: year-to-year change to former cigarette use was linked to a 30% increase in odds of recovery (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.07-1.57).
Both in the second cohort evaluated from 2016/2018 to 2022/2023 (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.13-1.66) and after trailing predictor by 1 year (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.00-2.05), this connection remained significant.
Overall, recovery from other SUD was linked to a person’s transition from current to past smoking. These findings imply that quitting smoking may be a useful strategy to support SUD recovery and enhance health in adults.
Source:
Parks, M. J., Blanco, C., Creamer, M. R., Kingsbury, J. H., Everard, C. D., Marshall, D., Kimmel, H. L., & Compton, W. M. (2025). Cigarette smoking during recovery from substance use disorders. JAMA Psychiatry (Chicago, Ill.). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.1976
