A randomized trial of concurrent smoking-cessation and substance use disorder treatment in stimulant-dependent smokers

J Clin Psychiatry. 2014 Apr;75(4):336-43. doi: 10.4088/JCP.13m08449.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of concurrent treatments for substance use disorder and nicotine-dependence for stimulant-dependent patients.

Method: A randomized, 10-week trial with follow-up at 3 and 6 months after smoking quit date conducted at 12 substance use disorder treatment programs between February 2010 and July 2012. Adults meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for cocaine and/or methamphetamine dependence and interested in quitting smoking were randomized to treatment as usual (n = 271) or treatment as usual with smoking-cessation treatment (n = 267). All participants received treatment as usual for substance use disorder treatment. Participants assigned to treatment as usual with concurrent smoking-cessation treatment received weekly individual smoking cessation counseling and extended-release bupropion (300 mg/d) during weeks 1-10. During post-quit treatment (weeks 4-10), participants assigned to treatment as usual with smoking-cessation treatment received a nicotine inhaler and contingency management for smoking abstinence. Weekly proportion of stimulant-abstinent participants during the treatment phase, as assessed by urine drug screens and self-report, was the primary outcome. Secondary measures included other substance/nicotine use outcomes and treatment attendance.

Results: There were no significant treatment effects on stimulant-use outcomes, as measured by the primary outcome and stimulant-free days, on drug-abstinence, or on attendance. Participants assigned to treatment as usual with smoking-cessation treatment, relative to those assigned to treatment as usual, had significantly better outcomes for drug-free days at 6-month follow-up (χ(2)(1) = 4.09, P <.05), with a decrease in drug-free days from baseline of -1.3% in treatment as usual with smoking-cessation treatment and of -7.6% in treatment as usual. Participants receiving treatment as usual with smoking-cessation treatment, relative to those receiving treatment as usual, had significantly better outcomes on smoking point-prevalence abstinence (25.5% vs 2.2%; χ(2)(1) = 44.69, P < .001; OR =18.2).

Conclusions: These results suggest that providing smoking-cessation treatment to illicit stimulant-dependent patients in outpatient substance use disorder treatment will not worsen, and may enhance, abstinence from nonnicotine substance use.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01077024.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / complications
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / drug therapy
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
  • Bupropion / therapeutic use
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / complications
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / drug therapy
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Counseling
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Smoking / drug therapy
  • Smoking / therapy
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications
  • Substance-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Bupropion

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01077024