| Electronics Cigarette | | | | element in their drug and alcohol relapse prevention |
| Smoking cigarettes can greatly increase the risk of | | | | plan is to stop smoking. Electronics Cigarette |
| returning to drug and alcohol use. | | | | This higher rate of success makes sense if we look at |
| | | | some key elements of how to quit smoking and their |
| Nicotine is a drug, it is mood altering, highly addictive, | | | | ready availability during drug and alcohol treatment. |
| and a poison. | | | | 1. Getting support and setting a date. In treatment, |
| In drug and alcohol treatment, the concept of complete | | | | counseling, encouragement and peer support is readily |
| abstinence from all mood altering substances is almost | | | | available. |
| universally accepted. Why has nicotine been | | | | 2. Learning alternative coping skills. An important |
| traditionally excluded? I am not sure, quite possibly | | | | element in quitting smoking is to make concrete |
| because of historical social acceptance of smoking. | | | | changes in dealing with situations where smoking |
| Condoning nicotine use for an alcoholic or drug addict | | | | occurred. For example, handling boredom or stress. |
| is almost like telling an alcoholic to give up rum, scotch | | | | 3. Preparing a relapse prevention plan. A prepared plan |
| and beer...but tequila is OK. | | | | to handle difficult situations is like an insurance policy; |
| There is a popular myth that trying to quit using nicotine | | | | you may never need it, but it is wise to have it in place. |
| products while giving up drugs and alcohol is too much | | | | These are important elements in any type of relapse |
| to handle. The new evidence shows the reverse is | | | | prevention plan. There is a great deal of additional |
| true; people attempting to stop smoking while in | | | | information available on relapse prevention and quitting |
| treatment for drugs and alcohol actually have a higher | | | | smoking. |
| rate of success. Arguably, for a smoker, a key | | | | |