A population-based study of cigarette smoking among illicit drug users in the United States.

Aims: People who use illicit drugs are thought to have high rates of cigarette smoking; however, few population-based studies have been reported. We describe smoking patterns among illicit drug users, assess whether cigarette smoking is more prevalent among illicit drug users than it is among non-users and explore how smoking relates to level and type of drug use.

Design, Setting, Participants: We used adult responses to the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (n = 16 661).

African American smokers interested and eligible for a smoking cessation clinical trial: predictors of not returning for randomization.

Purpose: Recruitment is often the rate-limiting step in conducting clinical trials among ethnic minorities. Little is known about participants who consent and enroll into a trial, but do not return for randomization. Why participants fail to return for randomization is largely unknown.