When you think of being in recovery for addiction to drugs or alcohol, you may assume that cigarettes are one of the substances that can’t be used during treatment. The truth is that you can smoke in recovery, the availability of smoking areas in recovery and rehab centers is based on the individual facility and the state that it’s in. There are also benefits and considerations to take into account when determining whether or not smoking cigarettes should be allowed.
It’s All About Location and Timing
Since America’s Rehab Campus is located in the lovely state of Arizona, there are no requirements for us to ban smoking during treatment. While we do offer options to help you quit while here, there’s no rule against smoking cigarettes as long as it’s done in the designated smoking areas. The primary reason is that trying to quit smoking at the same time you’re tackling an addiction to drugs or alcohol can make it even harder to quit either.
Not only do the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine have a chance to make your other symptoms more severe, but losing a coping mechanism can make the initial transition into recovery more challenging. The decision is ultimately up to you as some of our alumni quit smoking during treatment while others resumed after overcoming their more severe addiction.
Another option is to slowly start decreasing the amount you smoke as you learn other, healthier coping mechanisms to better handle addictive impulses and triggers. This can be done more easily with the aid of nicotine patches or gum, giving your body a measured amount of nicotine for a controlled tapering. You can reduce the severity of, or entirely avoid, withdrawal symptoms from nicotine this way while also practicing your new stress relief routines and coping mechanisms.
It’s Never Too Late To Start Quitting
It’s important to remember that at the end of the day, the primary focus of addiction recovery is ending use of drugs or alcohol. Smoking is also an unhealthy and addictive habit, but having it as an alternative to help manage stress or anxiety instead of drugs or alcohol can be crucial for some individuals. No two stories of recovery are exactly the same, and how your treatment unfolds is up to you.
If you or a loved one is struggling to control an addiction to any substance, we encourage you to contact our compassionate team of ARC specialists with any questions you may have. You can also verify your insurance online to see what coverage you have. If you don’t have insurance, give us a call and we’ll do our best to work with you and make treatment accessible.
