The brief from the American Lung Association explores the connection between tobacco use and opioid addiction, highlighting how smoking may increase the risk of opioid misuse and how addressing tobacco dependence can improve substance use recovery outcomes. It emphasizes the need for integrated treatment approaches in substance use disorder programs, including tobacco cessation interventions, to enhance recovery success. The document also outlines policy and healthcare strategies to support dual cessation efforts, such as insurance coverage, clinical screening, staff training, and tobacco-free campus policies.
