Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries (January 11 - 14, 2007)

Purpose: Over 20% of the current population in the United States use tobacco products (National Center for Health Statistics, 2004). Individuals with an alcohol or drug addiction are over-represented in this population, as an estimated 85% use tobacco products (Sharp, Schwartz, Nightingale & Novak, 2003). Although tobacco is widely used by clients of the AOD community, treatment facilities are slow to integrate tobacco-dependence into their current programs. This research explores the smoking prevalence, cessation and knowledge of the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) of clients from forty gender-specific AOD treatment facilities in Ohio. The study's objectives are to explore: (a) the factors that predict smoking status; (b) the factors that predict prior quit attempts of smokers; and (c) differences in knowledge of the effects of ETS based on smoking status and whether or not the client has made at least one quit attempt within the past twelve months. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 73 certified gender-specific AOD treatment facilities in Ohio to be distributed to each client of the facility. The questionnaire addressed the client's tobacco use, cessation, and knowledge of the effects of ETS. A total of 658 questionnaires were returned representing 40 gender-specific AOD treatment facilities. Two logistic regression analyses were employed. One analysis explored the factors that predict smoking, and the second explores the factors that predict at least one quit attempt within the past twelve months. Ordinary Least Squares regression was used to regress knowledge of ETS upon current smoking status and at least one quit attempt within the past twelve months, while controlling for demographic variables. Results: Seventy-eight percent of the women are currently using tobacco products with 38.6% of those smokers making at least one quit attempt within the past twelve months. Controlling for race, age, and educational level, living with a smoker or riding in a car with a smoker at least one day a week increases the odds that a woman is a current smoker, and decreases the odds that a woman has made at least one quit attempt within the past twelve months. Additionally, having made at least one quit attempt within the past twelve months was associated with an increase in knowledge of the effects of ETS, whereas living with a smoker is associated with a decrease in knowledge of the effects of ETS. There was no relationship between smoking status and knowledge of the effects of ETS. Implications: Given the findings of a positive relationship of living with a smoker and riding in a car with a smoker on smoking status, gender-specific treatment programs that address tobacco-dependence should focus on the behavioral influences from peers and significant others. Treatment should place emphasis on social interactions, social ties, peer pressure, social cues, and triggers that women face when attempting to quit using tobacco.