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Updated: Oct 1, 2025
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Creating Dynamic Images of Short-lived Dopamine Fluctuations with lp-ntPET: Dopamine Movies of Cigarette Smoking
Published on: August 6, 2013
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Characterizing nicotine withdrawal in smokers experiencing homelessness
Gabrielle K Sharbin1, Carla J Rash2
1University of Connecticut, United States of America.
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
|March 4, 2022
Summary
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are common and persistent for homeless smokers attempting to quit. Anticipatory withdrawal predicts lower adherence to nicotine patches, highlighting intervention needs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Smoking rates are disproportionately high among individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Nicotine withdrawal is a significant barrier to smoking cessation in this vulnerable population.
- The temporal pattern of withdrawal symptoms is not well understood for homeless smokers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize nicotine withdrawal symptoms during a smoking cessation attempt in homeless individuals.
- To examine the relationship between pre-quit withdrawal symptoms and smoking cessation treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of data from a randomized smoking cessation trial.
- Inclusion of 70 treatment-seeking smokers experiencing homelessness.
- Assessment of Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Severity Index (MNWS) symptoms pre-quit and for 4 weeks post-quit.
Main Results:
- Withdrawal symptoms were highest before the quit date and persisted in 20-35% of participants throughout 4 weeks post-quit.
- Symptom severity decreased 2-3 weeks post-quit but increased again weeks 3-4.
- Anticipatory withdrawal symptoms correlated with lower nicotine patch adherence (p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Persistent withdrawal symptoms suggest potential intervention targets for smoking cessation in homeless populations.
- Anticipatory withdrawal is a predictor of reduced adherence to smoking cessation aids.
- Further research is needed to optimize cessation strategies for this group.
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