Proposing concurrent alcohol and tobacco withdrawal. Analysis of the perceptions of Belgian nurses in the alcoholism unit.

INTRODUCTION Dual tobacco-alcohol addiction is common, but the literature often considers only the issue of withdrawal from one substance at a time and emphasises that the assessment of tobacco use seems to be neglected in psychiatry. SUBJECT AND METHODS In this study, we analysed the perceptions of nurses working in alcoholism units before and after motivational interviewing trainingon proposing concurrent alcohol-tobacco withdrawal to patients. RESULTS Nurses, unlike psychiatry postgraduates, were able to achieve acomprehensive and systematic history of substance abuse, but bothtended not to recommend concurrent tobacco-alcohol withdrawal. Training in motivational interviewing was inclined to reverse this tendency. DISCUSSION Reducing feelings of helplessness that carers experience when patientsrelapse is one of the factors to change. CONCLUSION Recommendations for the development of concurrent alcohol tobacco withdrawal programmes.