Treatment centers--the next challenge. The Counterpoint Unit at CPC Parkwood Hospital

Treatments centers have traditionally concentrated on the treatment of alcohol and various other chemical dependencies, frequently omitting treatment for nicotine dependence. Many have felt it to be too much to take away everything at once. Professionals in the treatment community are realizing more and more that nicotine dependence is another manifestation of the disease of addiction. Our philosophy challenges the old adage "don't take everything away at once," by addressing the issue of nicotine dependence. We began implementation of a nicotine-free unit at CPC Parkwood Hospital in November 1989. We are currently in the process of adopting a nicotine-free policy at Ridgeview Institute in Smyrna, Georgia. This article traces the evolution of a nicotine-free unit at CPC Parkwood Hospital.