Can You Smoke Cigarettes In Rehab?

Many people who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs also smoke cigarettes. Cigarettes contain a substance called nicotine, which is highly addictive itself.

If you battle addiction, you might wonder if you can smoke cigarettes at an inpatient addiction treatment center. Here’s what you should know.

Can You Smoke Cigarettes In Rehab?

It depends on the treatment facility.

Some facilities ban all forms of smoking and vaping. Others allow smoking in designated areas. While many rehab centers only permit outdoor smoking, some also have indoor smoking areas.

Studies show that very few drug rehab facilities enforce total smoking bans. Still, if you smoke, you should ask about your facility’s smoking policies before you head to rehab.

Policies Vary

Some facilities have different policies for their outpatient and inpatient treatment programs. For example, in an outpatient program that involves just a couple hours of treatment per day, you might only get one smoke break.

In an inpatient program, however, you might have the opportunity to smoke during designated free time at the start, middle, and end of each day.

You should also ask about your rehab center’s policy on packing cigarettes. Many centers limit the number of cigarettes you can bring with you. In addition, they may prohibit your loved ones from gifting you cigarettes during family visits.

Why Some Rehab Centers Allow Smoking

Many rehab centers allow smoking to help patients manage stress. Like other drugs, nicotine can make you feel calm and happy by triggering the release of dopamine, a natural chemical associated with pleasure. That’s why lots of people get addicted to nicotine.

If you get addicted to nicotine and try to stop smoking, you may experience intense withdrawal symptoms such as:

• cravings
• irritability
• anxiety
• depression
• restlessness
• trouble sleeping
• trouble concentrating

In other words, people who quit smoking face many of the same challenges as people who quit other addictive substances. Thus, if you’re addicted to nicotine as well as other drugs, you might find it easier to recover from your other addictions before you stop smoking.

Similarly, some people believe that smoking may help you stay engaged in your treatment plan.

According to a 2011 study of an Ohio rehab facility, a ban on cigarette smoking led to a 28% decrease in the number of patients who completed treatment. It was the first rehab center in Ohio to establish a smoking ban.

This study suggests that smoking bans might make the addiction recovery process more difficult for patients, causing them to drop out of treatment more often. However, other factors may have contributed to the facility’s rise in dropouts.

Why Some Rehab Centers Ban Smoking

While smoking might help you manage stress during rehab, it also allows your nicotine addiction to continue. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between 80% and 90% of people who regularly smoke cigarettes are addicted to nicotine.

Like other types of addiction, nicotine addiction can lead to serious health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States.

Moreover, each year, smoking causes more deaths than alcohol use and illicit drug use combined. That’s because it increases your risk of multiple life-threatening health conditions, including:

• cancer
• lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• heart disease
• stroke

Due to these risks, some rehab centers ban smoking.

Recover From All Substance Abuse At Once

These facilities encourage patients to recover from all forms of substance abuse at once. Although this policy might seem harsh, it can motivate you to focus on healthier coping mechanisms, such as journaling, meditation, and exercise.

It can also make the recovery process easier.

A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that cigarette smoking raises the risk of relapse among people in recovery. This might be because cigarettes remind people of other drugs. In addition, some studies have found that nicotine exposure can increase cravings for opioids and stimulants.

How To Stop Smoking

If you smoke but want to attend a rehab center that forbids it, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you develop a personalized plan to quit smoking.

Some people quit smoking all at once, also known as “quitting cold turkey.” Other people gradually reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke per day or week until they are nicotine-free.

Smoking Cessation Strategies

Your doctor can also help you figure out what smoking cessation strategies might work best for you. The most popular strategies include:

• nicotine patches, gums, or lozenges, which can help you slowly taper off nicotine
• certain medications, including varenicline and bupropion, which can reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• mental health counseling, which can help you change unhealthy beliefs that contribute to your nicotine addiction
• support groups, such as Nicotine Anonymous, which can connect you with other people trying to quit smoking

You may have also heard that you can quit smoking by switching to e-cigarettes. However, this claim has not been proven, and e-cigarettes pose their own health risks, including nicotine addiction. In addition, many rehab centers that ban regular cigarettes also ban e-cigarettes.

If you or someone you love struggles with drug use, please reach out to Northeast Addictions Treatment Center. Our board-certified healthcare providers offer personalized, evidence-based treatment options to help you or your loved one stay sober.