Tobacco Cessation: Evidence-based Guidelines for Practitioners

Around 20% of adults in the U.S. smoke or use other nicotine products such as chewing tobacco or electronic cigarettes. Among individuals in in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment smoking rates are considerably higher, with estimates ranging from 65% to 87% (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5093078/). A variety of products are available for use. This is important for practitioners, as patients will come to health practitioners for advice about tobacco product use and treatment of consequences of use. This session will educate practitioners about different tobacco products available in the U.S., and especially about ways to assist our patients with stopping use of tobacco products. Session description: This focus session will present the evidence supporting integration of tobacco cessation into SUD treatment. In addition, it will inform attendees with a discussion—including clinical case examples—that will focus on tobacco products and ways to assist patients to successfully quit use of tobacco products. The presentation will be evidence-based and draw from existing medical literature, and will also include the panelists’ clinical experience with patients who are attempting to quit use of tobacco products and the various treatment options available. The emphasis will be on clinical issues, especially talking with patients in SUD treatment about quitting and choice of pharmacotherapy, including combination pharmacotherapy. The presenters are experienced clinicians who have been involved in evaluation and treatment of patients using various tobacco products. Attendees will be able to share their own experiences with patient use of tobacco products to enrich the discussion. Time will be allowed for questions to the panelists so that there will be significant interaction during this session.

Conclusions: This focus session will provide attendees with evidence-based clinical knowledge about different tobacco products available, and behavioral and pharmacological treatments to help patients successfully quit use of tobacco products.