Maintaining addiction: Tobacco cessation policy and substance abuse treatment for youth

This research project examines how institutions, which are part of the substance abuse treatment industry, address the connection between tobacco and other drugs in youth. A Survey was sent to 628 substance abuse treatment programs. Results Suggest that the majority of treatment programs are routinely assessing tobacco use of the youth in their care, but only a small proportion follow through with tobacco cessation as an integral part of treatment planning. Results Suggest there is no consistent reason for including tobacco cessation in treatment planning, nor consistency in the methods used to treat tobacco addiction. Additionally, some outside policy forces appear to be related to whether or not tobacco cessation is assessed and treated. (C) 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.