SMOKING BAN MAKES SENSE

Tobacco Has No Place in Addiction Treatment Centers in New York

In dealing with addictive behaviors, it's important, among other
things, to be consistent. Giving an alcoholic a beer on the theory
that it's less potent and less dangerous is, to an addict, a license
to drink anything. The same goes for illegal drugs.

And the same applies to nicotine, among the most addictive of all
substances. If the goal in treatment is to get to the core of this
kind of compulsive behavior, then it makes no sense to allow smoking
in treatment centers.

New state regulations banning tobacco use in all public and private
recovery centers send the appropriate message: To tolerate smoking is
to tolerate poor health and serious addiction.

It is self-defeating to attack one disorder while allowing another of
a similar ilk.

Opponents of the new rule, the toughest of its kind in the country,
say it will keep addicts away from help.

But to help on the one hand and to look the other way on the other
clouds the mission of these recovery centers.

Fuzziness of purpose isn't something recovering alcoholics or drug
users -- or staffers exposed to secondhand smoke -- need.

Moreover, smokers coming to treatment won't be made to go cold
turkey. Nicotine replacements will be available and the state will
help fund smoking cessation programs.

In the end, those in recovery will hear what they need to hear:
Addiction is the target, and tobacco more than qualifies.