Alcohol Increases the Urge to Smoke

Many
studies have shown a positive association between cigarette
smoking and alcohol drinking. To examine this association
more closely, researchers assessed the urge to smoke in
16 heavy drinkers/light smokers* who all drank the following
(one beverage per test session): a placebo beverage (with
1% ethanol for taste), a low dose of alcohol (approximately
2 drinks), and a high dose of alcohol (approximately 4
drinks). Subjects refrained from smoking 2 hours before
and throughout the test sessions. They reported their
urges to smoke at baseline and after consuming the drinks.

• Both
  the high and low doses of alcohol, compared with placebo,
  significantly increased the urge to smoke for stimulation.
  The high dose of alcohol produced the greatest increases.
• The
  high and low doses of alcohol, compared with placebo,
  produced similar (but nonsignificant) increases in the
  urge to smoke to relieve negative mood and withdrawal.
• Baseline
  smoking levels did not significantly affect the results.

Comments:

In
this experiment, alcohol use produced dose-dependent increases
in the urge to smoke in heavy-drinking, cigarette-deprived
light smokers. Urge increases were stronger for positive
reinforcing effects (stimulation) than for negative reinforcing
effects (to relieve negative mood and withdrawal). Given
these results, clinicians should consider advising alcohol
abstinence when helping patients to stop smoking.

Joseph Conigliaro, MD, MPH

Reference:

King
AC, Epstein AM. Alcohol dose-dependent increases in smoking
urge in light smokers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res.
2005;29(4):547-552.