Substance abuse centers help quit smoking

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. substance abuse treatment facilities offering smoking-cessation help grew from 13 percent to 19 percent in four years, health officials say.

A report issued Thursday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Washington said the percentage of the 13,513 U.S. substance abuse treatment facilities offering nicotine replacement therapy to clients gradually increased by about 6 percentage points from 2006 to 2009.

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death -- causing about 440,000 U.S. deaths per year -- but almost half of these deaths are among people with mental and substance use disorders, health officials say.

Pamela S. Hyde, administrator of SAMHSA, said nicotine replacement therapy -- which includes nicotine patches, gum and lozenges -- can double the likelihood of smokers quitting tobacco.

"The report shows that substance abuse programs are increasingly recognizing the need to address nicotine addiction as part of treating the whole person," Hyde said in a statement. "Including nicotine replacement therapy as part of addiction treatment can make a life-saving difference to people who are also often addicted to tobacco and tobacco products."