RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In 2018 Jellinek became a smoke free institution. By implementing ‘Jellinek Smoke free’ in all locations (15), a policy has been implemented to facilitate smoking cessation in clients with a comorbid tobacco use disorder seeking treatment for substance use disorders at Jellinek. AIM: To investigate whether the implementation of the new policy impacted smoking behaviour of clients in treatment for substance use disorders at Jellinek. METHOD: Based on data from anonymized client files, changes in smoking behaviour (cessation or reduction) were analysed for clients with other addictions who started treatment in 2016 versus clients who started in 2019 - after the implementation of the new smoke free policy. Comparative analyses were conducted on the population as a whole, per type of treatment (outpatient care, residential care, Minnesota, outreaching care) as well as per type of smoker (light, moderate, heavy). RESULTS: In the client population as a whole, significantly more people stopped smoking in 2019 (22%) in comparison to 2016 (16%) and there was a trend toward statistical significance with regard to reduction. When a cessation period was part of treatment, significantly more clients stopped and decreased the number of cigarettes a day. Moreover, light and moderate smokers (≤ 20 cigarettes a day) stopped and reduced significantly more in 2019 (32%) than in 2016 (23%). In outpatient care, outreaching care and with heavy smokers (> 20 cigarettes a day), there was no significant difference in percentage of cessation and reduction between 2016 and 2019. CONCLUSION: After implementing Jellinek Smoke free, significant changes in smoking behaviour occurred in the client population as a whole with a comorbid tobacco use disorder, in treatments where a cessation period was part of treatment as well as with light and moderate smokers.