Premium
Tobacco Q uitlines Need to Assess and Intervene with Callers' Hazardous Drinking
Author(s) -
Toll Benjamin A.,
Cummings K. Michael,
O'Malley Stephanie S.,
CarlinMenter Shan,
McKee Sherry A.,
Hyland Andrew,
Wu Ran,
Hopkins Jessica,
Celestino Paula
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01767.x
Subject(s) - quitline , medicine , smoking cessation , environmental health , hotline , alcohol consumption , demography , alcohol , telecommunications , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology , sociology , computer science
Background Based on published data showing that daily smokers have high rates of hazardous drinking and higher rates of smoking relapse, we hypothesized that New York State Smokers' Quitline ( NYSSQL ) callers would exhibit elevated rates of risky drinking and risky drinking callers would report lower rates of smoking cessation. Methods We assessed rates of hazardous drinking among 88,479 callers to the NYSSQL using modified NIAAA guidelines. Using 2 routine NYSSQL short‐term follow‐up interviews ( n = 14,123 and n = 24,579) and a 3‐month follow‐up interview ( n = 2,833), we also compared smoking cessation rates for callers who met criteria for hazardous drinking compared to moderate drinkers and nondrinkers. Results At baseline, 56% of callers reported drinking, and 23% reported hazardous drinking using modified NIAAA guidelines. Hazardous drinkers did not differ on measures of smoking cessation outcomes compared to nondrinkers but did have lower smoking cessation rates compared to persons who reported moderate alcohol consumption for the enhanced services program 1‐week follow‐up (adjusted OR [95% CI ] = 1.09 [1.01, 1.17], p = 0.04) and the standard 2‐week follow‐up (adjusted OR [95% CI ] = 1.17 [1.07, 1.29], p = 0.001). Conclusions Nearly a quarter of smokers calling the NYSSQL reported a hazardous drinking pattern, which was associated with lower cessation outcomes compared to those who reported a moderate drinking profile. Given the large number of high‐risk drinkers who can be identified through a quitline, tobacco quitlines may provide a venue for providing brief alcohol interventions to these high‐risk drinkers. Future studies should evaluate whether a brief alcohol intervention would result in improved smoking cessation rates for hazardous drinking smokers.