Relationship of Cessation of Cocaine Use to Cigarette Smoking in Cocaine-Dependent Outpatients

Abstract

Cocaine abusers (N = 43) from an outpatient drug rehabilitation program were interviewed regarding the relationship of cessation of cocaine use to cigarette smoking. Patients reported significant reductions in cigarette consumption after cessation of cocaine use (37.3 ± 26.4 cigarettes per day when using cocaine vs. 18.1 ± 7.0 cigarettes per day after cessation of cocaine use; P <. 0001, paired t test, t = 4.79 with 42 degrees of freedom). Reduction of cigarette smoking after cessation of cocaine use was reported primarily by heavy smokers. However, patients with longer clinic enrollments reported more increases and fewer reductions in the number of cigarettes smoked per day after cessation of cocaine use. Comparison of average craving scores from the most recent period of cocaine use (1 month to several years before the interview), at clinic enrollment (usually shortly after the most recent period of cocaine use), and during the 24 hours before the interview showed that patients experienced markedly decreased craving for cocaine, in contrast to only slightly decreased craving for cigarettes.