Smoking and drinking 'should be treated simultaneously'

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by Change | 3 Nov 2008

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Experts have claimed smokers undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction can benefit from quitting nicotine at the same time as stopping excessive drinking.

Simultaneously tackling addictions to alcohol and nicotine could improve chances of quitting both drugs, it has been claimed.

Dr Michael Miller, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, told the Argus Leader recovering alcoholics often do not want to quit smoking, as it helps them deal with stress.

He went on to say people in recovery for other addictions who wait before stopping smoking can later relapse because of the stress of quitting smoking six to 18 months later.

Dr Millar concluded: "So stopping everything at once - getting all the psychological stress out of the way at once - is the best way to go and also getting all the physical withdrawal syndromes out of the way at once is the best way to go."

Professor of radiology at the University of California Dieter Meyerhoff, who carried out a study of the performance on cognitive tests of people recovering from alcohol addiction, added that once alcoholics have agreed to undergo treatment for excessive drinking, it presents a good opportunity for specialists to convince them of the negative effects of continued chronic smoking.

Last week, Alcohol Concern claimed long-term policies are needed to bring excessive drinking and alcohol abuse under control.

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