Quitting Smoking Facilitates Recovery from other addictions: Insights from Dr. Kolodner at TripleTrack

George Kolodner, MD

A recent study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse adds to growing evidence that quitting smoking strengthens recovery from alcohol and drug disorders. This finding challenges a common misconception—that giving up nicotine during recovery might put sobriety at risk. In truth, the opposite is often the case. Tobacco-related illnesses remain the leading cause of death among alcoholics in recovery, and research shows tobacco kills as many heroin users as heroin itself.

For many years, out of respect for the 12-step community, I was cautious about suggesting that my patients stop smoking. But as the medical consequences became clear and the science grew stronger, I changed my approach. Today, I encourage people at all stages of recovery to “stop everything.” In AA, the advice to keep smoking often traces back to a single anecdote in The Big Book. While attempts to update that guidance haven’t succeeded, I’ve been encouraged to see more members with long-term sobriety choosing to quit tobacco earlier in their recovery journey.

Dr. George Kolodner from TripleTrack Weighs In

When I first came across the recent NIDA study on the connection between smoking cessation and recovery from other substance use disorders, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. At TripleTrack, we see firsthand how interconnected habits are, and how progress in one area can unlock growth in others. This research confirms something we’ve been observing for years: quitting smoking isn’t just about physical health—it can directly strengthen someone’s long-term recovery from alcohol or drug use.

Why This Research Matters

The study followed more than 2,600 adults with a history of substance use disorders over four years. The headline finding is powerful: those who quit smoking increased their odds of sustained recovery by 42%. That’s not a small lift—it’s evidence that tackling nicotine alongside other addictions leads to better outcomes.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), quitting smoking was strongly associated with maintaining remission from other substance use disorders (NIDA, 2025). From my perspective, this challenges a common mindset in treatment. Too often, smoking is treated as the “lesser evil,” something to address later, after someone stabilizes from other addictions. But if quitting tobacco actually supports sobriety, then suggesting that it be delayed may be doing people a disservice.

The Connection We See at TripleTrack

Clients sometimes come to us saying, “Let me just keep my cigarettes while I work on the bigger stuff.” And I get it—smoking can be a short-term coping mechanism when everything else is stripped away. But what I tell them is this: recovery is about building sustainable, healthy habits. If nicotine is still in the mix, it often keeps the door cracked for other cravings and compulsions to sneak back in.

That’s why this study resonates so strongly. It validates the integrated approach we use at TripleTrack, where we address the whole person—not just one addiction at a time.

What the Experts Are Saying

Dr. Nora Volkow of NIDA put it well: quitting smoking predicts better recovery outcomes, and addiction treatment shouldn’t treat nicotine as separate. I couldn’t agree more. For years, programs avoided pushing tobacco cessation out of fear of overwhelming clients. But this research makes it clear: treating smoking as part of recovery doesn’t hurt—it helps.

Moving Forward

What I’d like to see now is treatment programs fully embracing this shift. Imagine recovery centers where smoking cessation support isn’t an afterthought but a core piece of the plan. That means offering counseling, nicotine replacement therapies, peer support, and even digital tools alongside other recovery strategies.

At TripleTrack, we’ll keep leaning into that holistic model, because when people realize they can quit smoking while staying sober, it reinforces their confidence in recovery overall. And that confidence can be the difference between relapse and long-term freedom.

Final Thought

This NIDA research is more than a data point—it’s a call to reframe how we think about recovery. Quitting smoking isn’t a side quest; it’s a catalyst for lasting change. And as I often tell clients: every cigarette you put down isn’t just a step toward healthier lungs—it’s a step toward strengthening your recovery as a whole.

– Dr. George Kolodner, TripleTrack

Reference

Fors Marsh. (2025, August 13). Quitting smoking may strengthen recovery from other addictions, NIDA research shows. Fors Marsh. https://www.forsmarsh.com/mediap/quitting-smoking-may-strengthen-recovery-from-other-addictions-nida-research-shows/?utm_source=threads&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=Fors_Marsh_Media&utm_content=NIDA_Tobacco_Cessation