Cigarette Smoking Four Years Following Treatment for Adolescent Substance Abuse

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken to provide information relevant to intervening with cigarette smoking by substance abusing adolescents. The persistence of cigarette smoking and predictors of smoking 4 years following treatment were examined for 125 adolescent substance abusers. Eighty percent of participants were still smoking 4 years following treatment. Analyses found that age of initial cigarette use and extent of smoking at the time of treatment significantly predicted late adolescent/early adult smoking for male but not female participants. Those no longer smoking at the 4-year time-point reported less alcohol and drug involvement than those whose smoking persisted. The substantial persistence of cigarette smoking into early adulthood reinforces the need for smoking intervention with adolescent substance abusers.