At Hanley Center, we understand that recovery is about more than abstaining from drugs or alcohol; it’s about embracing a life of wellness, clarity, and long-term health. That’s why it’s essential to shine a light on smoking and recovery from addiction.
Nicotine use remains common in recovery communities, often viewed as a “harmless” coping tool or a social habit. You may have seen patients gather during smoke breaks, bonding over shared experiences and mutual understanding. But beneath this seemingly minor habit lies a significant barrier to sustainable healing. When it comes to addiction treatment and long-term sobriety, nicotine use can be more than a side issue—it can be a serious obstacle.
Here’s what you need to know about why quitting smoking matters in addiction recovery.
Nicotine Is Addictive, and Addiction Undermines Sobriety
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances available. Continuing to smoke while trying to recover from substance use may send mixed messages to the brain. Recovery requires a full-body reset neurologically, emotionally, and physically, and nicotine use interferes with that process.
Maintaining one addiction while working to overcome another can increase the risk of relapse. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that people who quit smoking while in treatment for substance use disorder are more likely to maintain long-term sobriety from all substances.
Smoking Can Be a Gateway to Relapse
Nicotine can act as a psychological and behavioral trigger. For many, the ritual of smoking is linked to past substance use. The act of smoking may reignite cravings for drugs or alcohol, especially stimulants or opiates, and put individuals at greater risk of falling back into old patterns.
At Hanley Center, we help patients recognize these high-risk associations and build new routines. The same recovery tools that support abstinence from alcohol or drugs, such as mindfulness, replacement behaviors, peer support, and accountability, can also be used to quit nicotine successfully.
Smoking Masks Emotions and Recovery Requires Feeling Them
Substance use disorders often serve as a way to avoid difficult emotions. True healing begins when individuals learn to tolerate and process those emotions instead of numbing them.
Nicotine may provide momentary relief from stress or anxiety, but that “calm” comes at a cost. Smoking dulls emotional responses, interferes with self-awareness, and can prevent patients from fully engaging in the emotional work of treatment. This emotional suppression makes it harder to access the underlying issues—like trauma, fear, grief, or shame—that fuel addiction.
At Hanley Center, we provide trauma-informed, emotionally supportive therapy to help patients rebuild trust in themselves. That work is most effective when done without the interference of nicotine or other substances.
The Physical Toll: Smoking and Alcohol Use Disorders Are a Deadly Duo
For people in treatment for alcohol use disorder, the risks of smoking are particularly alarming. According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Smoking tobacco causes more deaths among clients in substance abuse treatment than the alcohol or drug use that brings them to treatment.”
Smoking is linked to a host of severe health conditions like heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory illness, and more. These risks are heightened for individuals who enter treatment already experiencing physical health complications from years of substance use. Continuing to smoke while investing in detox, nutritious meals, therapy, and exercise is like trying to heal while still clinging to what’s harming you.
At Hanley Center, your physical well-being is a priority. Our integrated care model encourages healthy choices across the board, empowering patients to step into recovery with clarity, energy, and a stronger foundation.
We know quitting can be daunting, especially during the early stages of recovery. That’s why we offer individualized support to address smoking as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. From medication-assisted support to behavioral therapy and peer encouragement, our team walks alongside patients every step of the way.
Recovery is not about restriction, it’s about renewal. It’s about saying yes to a life that is truly free.
Hanley Center has been helping people all over the country achieve wellness for more than 40 years. In addition to providing age- and gender-specific treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders, Hanley offers a Patriots Initiative for first responders and veterans, a program specifically for pregnant women, and a boutique residential mental health program for adults. For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1033.
