Cigarette Use Among Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorders in the United States, 2002 to 2016: Trends Overall and by Race/Ethnicity

Abstract

Background: Individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) who smoke cigarettes experience greater health risks than those using either substance alone. Further, disparities exist in AUDs and smoking by race/ethnicity. Although smoking has declined in the general population, it is not known whether the smoking prevalence has changed over time for individuals with AUDs. The current study used representative U.S. data to estimate the prevalence of current cigarette use from 2002 to 2016 by AUD status and severity overall and by race/ethnicity. Methods: Data were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual cross-sectional study of U.S. individuals, from 2002 to 2016 (total analytic sample n = 837,326). Cigarette smoking prevalence was calculated annually among those with and without past-year AUD and by AUD severity level (mild, moderate, severe AUD). Time trends in smoking prevalence by AUD status and severity were tested using logistic regression for the overall sample and significant interactions were subsequently stratified by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic [NH] White, NH Black, Hispanic, NH Other). Results: Cigarette use was persistently over twice as common among those with AUDs compared to without AUDs (2016: 37.84% vs. 16.29%). Cigarette use was also more common among those at each level of AUD severity criteria (2016: mild AUD 34.59%; moderate AUD 35.35%; severe AUD 52.23%). Approximately half of NH Black respondents with AUDs, and three-quarters of NH Black respondents with severe AUDs, reported smoking in 2016. The prevalence of smoking decreased significantly over time among respondents with and without AUDs; however, there were differences by race. There was no decline in smoking prevalence among NH Black respondents with AUDs over time in contrast to a significant decrease for every other racial/ethnic group with and without AUDs. Conclusions: Individuals with AUDs may need additional resources and interventions to quit smoking, especially NH Black individuals.

Cigarette smoking history is associated with poorer recovery in multiple neurocognitive domains following treatment for an alcohol use disorder

“…Chronic cigarette smoking is the most prevalent comorbidity in AUD (Daeppen et al, 2000;Durazzo & Meyerhoff, 2007;Weinberger et al, 2019). Cigarette smoking is associated with deficits in multiple neurocognitive domains in non-clinical cohorts of adolescents and adults (Durazzo, Meyerhoff, & Nixon, 2010;Sabia et al, 2012;Sabia, Marmot, Dufouil, & Singh-Manoux, 2008;Weiser, Zarka, Werbeloff, Kravitz, & Lubin, 2010) and individuals with AUD Durazzo et al, 2013;Glass et al, 2006;Glass et al, 2009).…”

Predicting relapse after alcohol use disorder treatment in a high-risk cohort: The roles of anhedonia and smoking

“…Cigarette smoking is another relevant comorbid substance use issue to AUD, particularly in Veterans. Although cigarette smoking within the general population has decreased over time, the smoking prevalence is at least twice as high among individuals with an AUD compared to the national average (Weinberger et al, 2019). Specifically, the prevalence of smoking ranges from 50% to at least 75% among individuals seeking treatment for AUD in the United States, depending on geographic region (Daeppen et al, 2000;Durazzo, T. C. et al, 2014b).…”

Truck Drivers’ Cigarette Smoking and Preferred Smoking Cessation Methods

“…Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and morbidity in the United States, 1,2 and a significant cause of mortality globally. 2 Cigarette smoking is the most commonly used form of tobacco.…”

“…Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and morbidity in the United States, 1,2 and a significant cause of mortality globally. 2 Cigarette smoking is the most commonly used form of tobacco. 1,3 While there have been observed declines in cigarette smoking in the general population over the last several decades, 3 prevalence remains high in certain occupations such as those in the service industry and blue collar workers.…”