The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded research to review the relationship between tobacco cravings and illicit drug use. A new study* found that breaking the drug habit might be harder if you are a smoker. Tobacco cravings can increase drug cravings for those abusing drugs. So if you try to give up other drugs while you continue smoking, you are going to have a hard time.

If you’ve ever sat in a self-help group like Narcotics Anonymous you’ve noticed how many addicts smoke cigarettes. No one makes a big deal about this, right? That’s because most people feel asking someone to quit smoking while trying to kick an illegal drug habit is too much. According to new research, this thinking may be wrong.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded research looking at the relationship between tobacco cravings and illicit drug use.

If you try to give up other drugs while you continue smoking, you are going to have a hard time. Give up cigarettes and you may help yourself kick the drug habit.

• The researchers found that opiate and cocaine use were higher in heavy smokers.

• The more cigarettes smoked, the more drug users used illegal drugs.

On the other hand, if you are using drugs and want to quit smoking, you probably won’t be successful either. It appears that nicotine and other drugs reinforce cravings for each drug.

• The bottom line is this – smoking cessation programs should be part of drug rehabilitation.

• Smoking cigarettes while kicking other drugs is not helping either drug problem.

*Frosch, D., Shoptaw S., Nahom, D., and Jarvik, M. (2000). Association between tobacco smoking and illicit drug use among methadone-maintained opiate-dependent individuals, Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 8(1).

Dr. Mintle – author, professor, Approved Supervisor and Clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy – is a speaker and media personality, as well as a licensed clinical social worker with twenty years in psychotherapy practice. For more articles by Dr. Linda S. Mintle, go to Counseling and Advice on the Health Channel.