The effects of a prison smoking ban on smoking behavior and withdrawal symptoms

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.07.003

Addictive Behaviors

Volume 30, Issue 3, March 2005, Pages 589-594

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.07.003 Get rights and content

Abstract

This study investigated symptoms of distress and nicotine dependence as predictors of nicotine withdrawal symptoms among 188 incarcerated male smokers during a mandated smoking ban. Participants completed a smoking history questionnaire and measures of nicotine dependence, withdrawal, cravings, and distress before the ban and two follow-up times. The majority of smokers (76%) continued to smoke following the smoking ban. Smokers after the ban were more nicotine dependent than were the participants who reported quitting. Smokers also reported more withdrawal symptoms than did participants who quit, even when accounting for nicotine dependence and baseline withdrawal scores. An interaction was found such that distressed smokers had the highest level of nicotine withdrawal. These results have implications for how smoking bans are instituted in prison settings.

Introduction

Nicotine withdrawal has received increased attention over the last several years, as smoking has come to be recognized as an addictive disorder (Hughes & Hatsukami, 1986). While several studies have established the effects of nicotine withdrawal in controlled laboratory conditions (Hatsukami et al., 1984, Niaura et al., 2001), little research has investigated the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal in a naturalistic setting. The implementation of a smoking ban in a prison setting was a unique opportunity to investigate these physiological and psychological variables in a controlled environment. No previous study in the literature has systematically studied nicotine withdrawal, dependence, and depression with an incarcerated population. Furthermore, this study provided an opportunity to investigate these effects with participants who were not seeking to quit smoking but who were being forced to quit due to a statewide smoking ban.

Section snippets

Design and overview of general study

A description of the smoking ban has been reported previously (Cropsey & Kristeller, 2003). Participants were assessed at three time periods: baseline (1 week prior to the smoking ban), Time 2 (4 days after the smoking ban), and Time 3 (1 month after the smoking ban). Smoking history information was collected at baseline along with the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND; Heatherton, Kozlowski, Frecker, & Fagerström, 1991), the Hughes–Hatsukami Withdrawal Scale (HHWS; Hughes &

Demographic and baseline predictors of smoking status

One month after the smoking ban, 24% of the smokers reported quitting smoking (n=45). The majority of the participants reported smoking at some level during the month of the smoking ban (n=143). These groups were reclassified as “quitters” and “smokers”, respectively. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics for smokers and quitters identified at 1 month. Caucasians and persons serving longer prison sentences were most likely to report continuing to smoke following the ban. Furthermore,

Discussion

Results from this study indicated that 76% of participants continued to smoke following the implementation of the smoking ban. This low compliance with the smoking ban was surprising and unanticipated. In addition, the fact that more than three-quarters of the smokers admitted to engaging in a behavior that was declared prohibited is also surprising. The low rate of compliance and high disclosure was likely due to the way the smoking ban was enforced. Given that the smoking ban affected

Acknowledgement

Preparation of this manuscript was supported by NIH K23DA15774.

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Short communicationThe effects of a prison smoking ban on smoking behavior and withdrawal symptoms

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Design and overview of general study

Demographic and baseline predictors of smoking status

Discussion

Acknowledgement

Addictive Behaviors

Addictive Behaviors

Smoking in correctional facilities: A survey of employees

Tobacco Control

Nicotine, negative affect, and depression

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Tobacco withdrawal symptoms: An experimental analysis

Psychopharmacology

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence: A revision of the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire

British Journal of Addiction

Short communication
The effects of a prison smoking ban on smoking behavior and withdrawal symptoms