Nicotine Cessation Aids in Substance Sobriety

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department implements many programs that promote healthier decisions and behaviors.   

ZMCHD Health Educator Monica Batteiger talks about a new effort that informs people about the dangers of smoking and vaping as well as enlightens them to the benefits of eliminating those behaviors.

“So the last month we’ve been working and focusing on the statewide campaign ‘You’ll Thank You,’” Batteiger said. “We have been working with s lot of the mental health and behavioral health organizations because research shows that over 60 percent of the people that are actually in treatment for substance use disorder actually are the ones that are currently smoking or vaping.”

The health department is offering the template of the smoking and vaping prevention program to the various, well established organizations throughout the community that are already dealing with clients who are struggling with more serious addictions.  

“ODH has a program called… and it’s ‘Ask Advise and Refer,’” Batteiger said. “So I went to some of the treatment centers and I’ve helped implement those. So it’s basically a three question thing when they do the intake process, change some language. We know that if you ask somebody if they smoke, they’re currently not using combustible cigarettes, they’re doing a lot of vaping. So just changing that word from smoke to nicotine then help those clients understand that this is how they’re going to get the help that they need.”

Batteiger noted studies have shown that people who eliminate their nicotine addiction alongside their more serious substance use disorders have a higher rate of maintaining and sustaining their sobriety.