A paradox among those in recovery is that more than half of recovering addicts and alcoholics still smoke cigarettes. Most meeting rooms have people puffing away outside before the meeting begins. And the 20% or so of those who don't smoke get to walk through the cloud into the meeting. While about 20% of the general population smokes, estimates are that 50 to 70% of those in recovery still smoke.
Though there is little doubt that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, a rationale among those in recovery is "at least I'm not drinking or doing drugs." And that’s true. It's better to smoke and not do drugs and alcohol. But are these the only choices?
During the past 20 years TLC has lost many clients and staff to smoking. Some succumbed to lung cancer. Others developed COPD or emphysema. Eventually, they were forced to quit because they could no longer successfully smoke and breathe.
While it might seem easy for me as a non-smoker to pontificate about the addiction of others, I'm also a former smoker who lost several family members to emphysema. It was painful to see those I love spend their last years on oxygen tanks, or in the hospital suffering because nothing could be done for them.
To help clients and staff quit smoking we’re considering adding a smoking cessation program to the TLC program. Updates to come.
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