‘Don't you think we're giving up enough already?’ Attitudes of patients and staff on an in‐patient addiction treatment service towards a proposed ‘No Smoking’ policy

Abstract

Patients and staff from an in‐patient drug and alcohol dependence treatment service were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards a proposed smoking ban. Data were collected using a semi‐structured questionnaire. The sample (n = 77) comprised 38 patients and 39 staff. Patients generally held negative attitudes towards a no smoking policy on the wards: almost three‐quarters reported that they would be unlikely to accept treatment with such a policy. While staff members recognized the health benefits of a no smoking policy, they expressed concern that such a policy would lead to increased difficulties for patients and increase the likelihood of early discharge from treatment. Although about a quarter of patients expressed a desire to quit smoking, it was generally felt that stopping smoking was not an attractive proposition during treatment. Overall, both patients and staff felt that the introduction of a no smoking policy would be unattractive and potentially disruptive to treatment.

• Smoking ban
• attitudes
• treatment

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the inpatient admissions team for their assistance in data collection.