At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of eight addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, many of our patients have co-occurring disorders and addictions. Specifically, many of our patients are addicted to tobacco and nicotine in the form of cigarettes (in addition to their other substance use disorders and addictions). We have found that many patients will work with us on overcoming their addiction to smoking, once they have found a level of success with our outpatient program.
Smoking tobacco has decreased over recent years. There are many reasons for this, including new health trends and the price of cigarettes. It is “cool” to be healthy, and many young adults are more interested in leading healthy lives. The cost of cigarettes has also gone up; here on Long Island, a single pack of cigarettes is almost $16. This is unaffordable for many users. If you were to smoke one pack per day, you would be spending close to $500 a month on cigarettes.
According to a Surgeon General’s report, around 1 out of 5 working adults had used tobacco, such as in the form of cigarettes. Men also had a higher rate of use than women. Over the past few years, electronic vaping has become more common. In fact, vaping has become more common for the younger generations, rather than traditional cigarettes. There is a misconception that vaping is harmless – this is not the case, as vaping is still dangerous and unhealthy. In June of 2024, 21 states passed laws that eliminate the use of vaping in the workplace.
In addition to vaping and cigarettes, other forms of tobacco include smokeless tobacco. Examples of this are chewing tobacco and snuff. A common misconception is that smokeless tobacco is healthier because the user is not breathing in the smoke. It is important to note that smokeless tobacco still contains nicotine, which makes it highly addictive. In fact, it is possible to develop conditions such as mouth and esophageal cancer from long-term smokeless tobacco use.
An important area that is worth noting when discussing tobacco use is its use in the workplace. It is key that employees are protected and safe in the workplace. Employers must take steps to protect employees from tobacco use (even second-hand smoke). Employers should clearly express that there are smoke-free areas – this includes all indoor settings, locations near the entrances to the workplace, and company vehicles. Employers must also follow all OSHA and MSHA guidelines.
Employees must comply with all rules set by their employers. Ideally, it would be preferred if employees quit using tobacco products completely; however, we recognize this takes time and can be difficult to achieve.
Tobacco use has been around for generations. Many of those who use tobacco today have friends or family members who also use tobacco. Here at Victory, many of our patients are eager to quit their tobacco use, as it occurs in connection with their other addictions.
Victory’s motto is “No One Left Behind”, and our goal is to help make sure each patient succeeds. We recognize how hard it is to give up tobacco use. If it were simple and easy, we wouldn’t have a society that still smokes even though they know the health risks and dangers associated with it. Our patients gain a high level of confidence from attending our outpatient programs. They realize they can achieve anything, including giving up substances and drugs, in addition to tobacco use such as cigarettes and vaping. If you or a loved one are suffering with an addiction, Victory would like to help. Please visit our website to learn more.
