Associations between chronic pain status, attempts to quit smoking, and use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation

Chronic pain and tobacco dependence are two highly prevalent and comorbid conditions, and there is mounting evidence that smokers with comorbid pain may experience greater difficulty when attempting to quit smoking. The main goal of the current study was to examine cross-sectional relations between lifetime chronic pain status, number of past attempts to quit smoking, and past use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation. Data were derived from a large, nationally representative survey of households in the continental United States. After adjusting for relevant third variables, analyses revealed that smokers who endorsed lifetime chronic pain were more likely to report having used pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation. Chronic pain status was not associated with number of past attempts to quit smoking. Thus, smokers with chronic pain appear motivated to quit smoking, and may be particularly amenable to pharmacologic intervention.