Table 2 Smoking history, cessation behaviours and outcomes by regular use of heroin in year before prison

Smoking behaviours

Mean age first smoked tobacco

14.1

13.0

13.7

P < 0.02

  (+SD; Range)

(4.8; 5–39)

(3.1; 5–22)

(4.3; 5–39)

Mean age first smoked tobacco daily

16.0

14.6

15.5

P < 0.01

  (+SD; Range)

(4.6; 5–39)

(3.2; 7–30)

(4.2; 5–39)

Mean years smoked tobacco

20.3

19.0

19.8

NS

  (+SD; Range)

(11.2; 0–52)

(8.4; 3–46)

(10.2; 0–52)

Mean carbon monoxide reading

14.1

14.5

14.3

NS

  (+SD; Range)

(7.5; 1–43)

(8.2; 3–59)

(7.8; 1–59)

Mean cigarettes smoked per day

23.1

23.3

23.2

NS

  (+SD; Range)

(10.3; 3–75)

(8.9; 5–60)

(9.8; 3–75)

Smoke 20+ cigarettes per day

67.6

74.4

70.1

NS

High tobacco dependence (Fagerström 6+)

80.8

86.3

82.8

NS

Share a cell with a smoker

32.2

35.6

33.5

NS

Smoke White Ox (loose tobacco)

97.0

97.5

97.2

NS

Smoking cessation behaviours

Mean times tried to quit smoking

2.9

2.2

2.6

NS

  (+SD; Range)

(8.6; 0–128)

(2.6; 0–20)

(7.9; 0–128)

Quitting behaviours in past year

  Given up more than one month

14.0

11.3

12.9

NS

  Tried to give up unsuccessfully

64.2

53.8

60.2

P < 0.04

  Lower tar or nicotine content

7.9

4.4

6.6

NS

  Reduced amount tobacco smoked

50.2

43.8

47.8

NS

  Quit on purpose for 24 hours

57.0

48.1

53.7

NS

  Any type of quitting behaviour

76.2

68.8

73.4

NS

Smoking cessation intervention outcomes

Active NOR versus placebo NOR

49.4

46.9

48.5

NS

Quit smoking at 12 months: point prevalence

18.5

5.0

13.4

P < 0.01

Quit smoking at 12 months: continuous abstinence

16.6

3.8

11.2

P < 0.01

50% smoking reduction at 12 months

76.2

72.2

74.7

NS