Perpetuating a Problem: Smoking Behaviors of Counselors in Recovery

Research has shown that smoking cessation interventions during addiction treatments enhance chances of patients' sobriety; however, at many treatment facilities tobacco use is viewed as a less harmful alternative to alcohol or illicit drug use. Previous research has shown that health professionals who smoke have the potential to unintentionally affect the smoking behaviors of others. This study will examine tobacco use among counselors in recovery. Data were collected using online surveys administered October 2010-August 2011 to 1054 counselors from randomly selected substance abuse treatment facilities across the nation. The study found that 42.2% of counselors were in recovery. Of counselors in recovery, 86.8% had smoked 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes compared to 42.4% for counselors not in recovery (p=.000). Counselors in recovery also smoked more in the past 30 days, with 23.1% having smoked all 30 days, compared to 7.0% for counselors not in recovery (p=.000). Overall counselors in recovery were 9 times more likely to have ever smoked or be a current smoker compared to those who were not in recovery. The lack of smoking cessation practices at substance abuse facilities continues to be a problem. Counselors who are in recovery from other substance abuse problems have been through a system that virtually ignores nicotine as a drug; therefore, they continue to perpetuate tobacco use.