Key points

Many programs focused on alcoholism largely ignored tobacco.

More people with addictions die from smoking-related causes than alcohol or their substance use disorders.

Quitting and changing status from current to former smoker improves recovery from all addictions.

A major study of 2,652 adults with a substance use history in JAMA Psychiatry showed discontinuing smoking was strongly and positively associated with recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). They also quantified the difference: Smoking discontinuation elevated the odds of substance abuse disorder (SUD) recovery by as much as 42 times, an impressive improvement.

In a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) news release, Dr. Nora Volkow, M.D., director of NIDA, said: “We now have strong evidence f

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