Changes in cigarette smoking among alcohol and drug misusers during inpatient detoxification

FRANÇAIS :
La prévalence de la consommation de tabac de 135 patients hospitalisés pour désintoxication de l'alcool et/ou de la drogue, dont 92 % sont des fumeurs, a été étudiée lors de deux entretiens à une semaine d'intervalle. Avant admission, la consommation moyenne journalière était de 27 cigarettes. Les gros fumeurs (40 cigarettes ou plus/j) ont diminué leur consommation de10,5 cigarettes. Les fumeurs légers (1-19/j) ont augmenté de 8,6 cigarettes et les fumeurs moyens (20-39/j) de 4,9 cigarettes. Les raisons des convergences observées ne sont pas expliquées dans cette étude. Cependant, la relation dose-dépendante entre désintoxication et consommation de cigarettes pourrait être mise à profit pour orienter ce changement vers un arrêt du tabac au cours des cures de désintoxication.
ENGLISH :
Smoking prevalence and changes during inpatient detoxification were examined among 135 admissions to an inpatient alcohol and drug detoxification unit, of whom 83 (61.5%) were re-interviewed one week later. Ninety-two per cent of the initial sample were currently smokers; 87% of alcohol misusers, 97% of drug misusers and 100% of drug/alcohol misusers. Smokers consumed a daily mean of 27 cigarettes before admission. Those classified as heavy smokers (smoking 40 or more cigarettes prior to admission) decreased their smoking levels by an average of 10.5 cigarettes during detoxification. Light smokers (1-19 cigarettes per day) increased by a daily average of 8.6 cigarettes and intermediate smokers (20-39 cigarettes) by 4.9 cigarettes. The findings suggest a dose-dependent relationship between cigarette smoking and inpatient detoxification that requires further study. Over three-quarters of the sample expressed a desire to change their smoking behaviour, many of whom felt they would like help to tackle this change. Given the high smoking prevalence and reported interest in smoking cessation/reduction, there is an opportunity to address the smoking behaviour of drug and alcohol misusers entering inpatient care, whether during or after their detoxification. (Author' s abstract)