Developing a Smoking Cessation Intervention for Methadone Maintained Smokers

The purpose of this study is to pilot and evaluate, in a randomized controlled trial, the immediate and long-term effects of a newly developed, tailored, intensive smoking cessation intervention among methadone maintained smokers and compared to a control condition (facilitated referral to the NJ Quitline). The newly developed intervention is evidence based, addresses the unique needs of methadone maintained smokers, is intensive, can be tailored to the individual, and builds on the strengths as well as addresses the gaps in previous treatments for methadone maintained smokers. The investigators hypothesize that: (1) three months and six months after beginning treatment, those in the tailored intervention condition will be more likely to be abstinent from smoking than those in the control intervention condition (primary outcome); (2) there will be a greater relapse rate in the control intervention condition between the three and six month follow-up points than in the tailored intervention condition; (3) three and six months after beginning treatment, those in the tailored intervention condition will have better secondary smoking related outcomes (smoked fewer cigarettes per day in the past week, be more ready to quit, have greater self-efficacy for quitting, experience less nicotine dependence, and be more likely to have made a quit attempt) than those in the control intervention condition; (4) three and six months after beginning treatment, those in the tailored intervention condition will have better utilization of and adherence to smoking cessation pharmacotherapy, better mental and physical health, less perceived stress, greater social support, less drug and alcohol use, and greater involvement in drug and alcohol treatment than those in the control intervention condition; and (5) the newly created tailored intervention will be feasible and acceptable. .