Nicotine and Opioids: a Call for Co-treatment as the Standard of Care

The U.S. is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. At the same time, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disability. While the shared biological underpinnings of nicotine and opioid addiction are well established, clinical implications for co-treatment of these two substance use disorders has not been emphasized in the literature, nor have researchers, clinicians, and policy makers adequately outlined pathways for incorporating co-treatment into existing clinical workflows. The current brief review characterizes the metabolic and neural mechanisms which mediate co-use of nicotine and opioids, and then outlines clinical and policy implications for concurrently addressing these two deadly epidemics. Screening, assessment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and tobacco-free policy are discussed. The evidence suggests that clinical care and policies that facilitate co-treatment are an expedient means of delivering healthcare to individuals that result in better health for the population while also meeting patients’ substance abuse disorder recovery goals.