Tobacco use and other predictors of successful length of stay in a faith-based substance abuse recovery center: Results of an initial assessment at one facility.

There has been debate as to whether smoking should be allowed in addiction treatment centers as part of recovery programming. A prior study at one facility assessed health promotion needs and found 80% of inpatients were smokers or tobacco users. This is four times the national average. This study assessed predictors of length of stay at a faith-based, inpatient facility in Alabama and included tobacco use as a possible predictor of success. Other potential predictors such as basic demographics, drugs of choice, intravenous drug use, parental marital status, and education levels were also tested. Among the 290 participants completing the survey (100%), 83% were males, most were white, mean age was 33 years, and ages ranged from 18-61. Eighty percent used tobacco, and cocaine use was the most common drug for which patients were under treatment. Although approximately one third of patients completed the entire 52 week program, older patients tended to stay longer in the program and those court-ordered were more likely to complete the program as well. Marijuana use predicted longer stays compared to other drugs of choice, and tobacco use was a borderline significant predictor of length of stay (p=0.05), with users less likely to stay as long. Continued tobacco use did not enhance participants’ length of stay. Modifying program delivery by taking into consideration such factors as age of patients and drugs of choice, and considering a tobacco-free policy are issues that the facility may wish to address. Further studies could include assessment of mandated tobacco cessation and its effects on successful length of stay.