Tobacco use and quit attempts among methadone maintenance clients

Objective: This study examined tobacco use prevalence, types of tobacco used, interest in quitting, and prior quit attempts among persons in methadone maintenance treatment. Methods: Counselors collected surveys from 84% (550 of 655) of all clients in a 4-county metropolitan area. Results: Most clients (77%) smoked cigarettes. Of the 59 former tobacco users, only 6 reported using a cessation pharmacotherapy to quit. Three quarters of the current smokers had attempted to quit at least once, with an average of 5 attempts. Most smokers (80%) were "somewhat" or "very" interested in quitting. Conclusions: The quit ratio among methadone maintenance treatment clients was 12%, compared with 50% nationwide. To reduce morbidity and mortality, cessation interventions must be developed and disseminated.