ALCOHOL CENTER LESS SUCCESSFUL WITH SMOKERS

Alcoholics who underwent treatment to stop drinking had little success in
trying to quit another habit smoking, according to a government survey.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that
only 8 percent of 448 smokers in alcohol treatment centers in Iowa, Kansas
and Nebraska were able to quit smoking.

The survey, which was taken in 1995 and 1996, was conducted within a year
of their alcohol treatment.

Treatment centers may shy away from trying to help alcoholics quit smoking
because of a fear that the stress will push them back to the bottle. The
government is encouraging alcohol treatment centers to start antismoking
programs too.