title: Outcomes following treatment of veterans for substance and tobacco addiction.
abstract: Persons who use tobacco in addition to alcohol and other drugs have increased health risks and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of participation in a tobacco cessation program on tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use in a population seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use were assessed by urine drug screens, breathalyzer readings, and self-report. Veterans (N=137) with a tobacco use disorder enrolled in inpatient program for the treatment of SUDs at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center participated in tobacco cessation education as part of their treatment programming. Use of tobacco, drugs and/or alcohol was evaluated upon admission, 2 weeks following admission, at discharge and 1 month following graduation. The 1-month follow-up rate was 70.8%, with 97 veterans completing the follow-up assessment. Of those 97 veterans, 90.7% (n=88) reported abstinence from alcohol and 91.8% (n=89) reported abstinence from other drugs of abuse. Fourteen veterans (14.4%) reported abstinence from tobacco at the 1-month follow-up. The veterans reporting abstinence from tobacco use also reported abstinence from alcohol and other drugs at the 1-month follow-up.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia and Veterans Affairs Administration Salem, VA. Electronic address: bridgette.vest@va.gov.
authors.forename: Bridgette Helms
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Vest
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia - School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA. Electronic address: cfk9m@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Administration Salem, VA Medical Center, Salem, VA. Electronic address: josephine.demarce@va.gov.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeMarce
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia - School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA. Electronic address: ed5z@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Edie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbero
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia - School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA. Electronic address: rbh8a@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Administration Salem, VA Medical Center, Salem, VA. Electronic address: joanne.hawley@va.gov.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Administration Salem, VA Medical Center, Salem, VA. Electronic address: lauren.lehmann@va.gov.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014768:Virginia; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring