Comments about ‘Smokeless treatment facilities test mettle of recovering addicts’

Addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease. While tobacco addiction is life-threatening in the long run and should be addressed, addiction to acutely-toxic drugs like alcohol, heroin, meth, etc. is life-threatening in the short run from fatal overdoses and, if necessary, should be addressed first.

Science-based education about drug use and abuse is key. For websites that discuss the science of addiction in accessible English (how alcohol and drugs work in the brain; how addiction develops; why addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease; what parts of the brain malfunction as a result of substance abuse; how that malfunction skews decision-making and motivation, resulting in addict behaviors; why some get addicted while others don't; how treatment works; how well treatment works; why relpase is common; what family and friends can do; etc.), please google AddictScience.

The article notes that those with mental illness/substance abuse die 29 years before the general population. Concerning mental illness, it seems a reality that the poly-pharmacy also leads to increased deaths as well as their smoking or other lifestyle factors. Many of the anti-psychotic/mood stabilizing drugs cause a major increase in weight gain, diabetes and heart problems. It also seems that Psychiatrists order multiple drugs to treat the serious conditions, many times over 5. They get meds from other Dr's and specialists as well, who don't communicate at all with each other.
It's great that the state is tackling the smoking issue, but they need to take a look at patients who are on too many drugs with too many side effects! I've noticed at the local mental health provider in my county, the smokers have been relegated to the streets or curbs to smoke. The neighbors of these facilities are none too pleased to see smokers in the street (seriously mentally ill people) which is causing problems for the neighbors of these facilities.

As a client in a substance abuse treatment facility(Project Reality), I am appalled at the overwhelming majority of other clients who have to have a cigarette before dosing and then as soon as they are done and outside, they need another. In my opinion, when a person is involved in substance abuse treatment, it isn't a pick-and-choose of which substances to treat. It is everything(to be completely detoxed) or it is nothing. I am one of the silent majority who CHOOSE not to drink and smoke and I believe that only those others in my minority who truly get the most out of substance abuse treatment. I was an in-patient at the VA's intense North Star treatment and while I was there, only 3-4 of us did not smoke(out of the dozens that were there at the same time as I). The burned-out cigarette butts that littered outside was truly disgusting and I have yet to meet anyone who got better looking as a result of their smoking habit. On the contrary, most end up looking like Klingons or worse, with a hole in their throats due to cancer. Gross!