The relation between alcohol consumption and smoking abstinence: results from the Working Well Trial.
The current study examined the relation between drinking and smoking abstinence in a community-based sample from the Working Well Trial (WWT). At baseline, drinking level was related to smoking history (never, former, or current smoker; P < .0001) and abstinence history. Mean monthly alcohol consumption increased linearly with decreases in duration of recent abstinence (i.e., longest period quit in the past year among current smokers; P < .05) and current abstinence (i.e., time since quitting among former smokers; P < .0001), even controlling for relevant demographic factors. Among baseline smokers, lower beer consumption predicted smoking abstinence at 4-year follow-up (P< .01). A trend towards significance was found for total alcohol consumption (P = .06). The results suggest (a) a dose-response relation between baseline drinking and duration of smoking abstinence, and (b) that heavier drinkers are less likely to quit smoking over a 4-year period.
Group Health Cooperative, Center for Health Studies, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. mcclure.j@ghc.org
Jennifer B
JB
McClure
David W
DW
Wetter
Carl
C
de Moor
Paul M
PM
Cinciripini
Ellen R
ER
Gritz
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*