| Studies have shown that people who are addicted to | | | | Right now there are no smoking cessation guidelines |
| alcohol are also highly likely to smoke cigarettes. A | | | | specifically created for alcohol-dependent adults. For |
| report in the June 2008 issue of the Harvard Mental | | | | now, the best plan is to follow the federal strategies |
| Health Letter showed that experts tended to believe | | | | for treating tobacco dependence, which recommend a |
| that it's imperative to counsel alcohol-dependent | | | | combination of counseling and medication. |
| individuals to quit smoking as well as drinking not only to | | | | A major, and still unresolved, problem is whether it's |
| improve their health, but also to increase their chances | | | | better to tackle one addiction at a time or whether it's |
| of staying sober. | | | | better to give up smoking and drinking together. |
| It is a widespread fear that attempting to quit smoking | | | | Researchers have found that when smoking |
| and drinking simultaneously will undermine treatment for | | | | cessation support was delayed by six months, study |
| alcohol dependence. | | | | participants were more likely to remain sober |
| However, most studies have reported that efforts to | | | | compared with those who received concurrent |
| quit smoking either have no impact on maintaining | | | | treatment for both addictions. But a follow-up analysis |
| sobriety or actually increase success of alcohol | | | | found that this may have been true only for white |
| treatment. | | | | people in the study. |