By Angie Vogt, Groups Medical Director
As of July 1, the price of cigarettes and other tobacco products in Indiana just went up. Lawmakers approved an increase to the state’s tobacco tax — an important step toward reducing tobacco use rates, saving lives and generating public health funding.
But the significance of this moment goes beyond the price tag.
For thousands of Hoosiers in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD), this sudden jump in tobacco costs opens a critical window of opportunity — a window to quit, and to treat tobacco and opioid addiction together.
The link between tobacco use and behavioral health is striking. Nationally, people with mental health or substance use disorders consume more than 40 percent of all cigarettes sold in the United States. Among individuals receiving substance use disorder treatment, tobacco use rates can exceed 70 percent — far above the Indiana general population average of 14.5 percent.
This is more than a coincidence — it’s a compounding public health crisis. People in treatment for OUD are more likely to die from tobacco-related illness than from overdose. Yet tobacco use is often overlooked in addiction care, treated as a separate issue or something to be addressed later.
Research shows this is a mistake: treating tobacco use disorder during addiction treatment increases the likelihood of long-term abstinence from alcohol and illicit drugs by 25 percent. Additionally, co-use of tobacco and other substances makes quitting either more difficult due to priming, extended reinforcement, and cross-tolerance —creating a cycle that can undermine recovery if left unaddressed.
Now, Indiana has an opening to change that.
The tobacco tax increase presents a powerful opportunity to support people in recovery by integrating tobacco cessation counseling, nicotine replacement therapy and peer support into the care they already receive. For many, this price hike is the exact moment when they’re most motivated to quit. But without support, even the strongest motivation often isn’t enough.
Studies show that higher tobacco prices are an incredibly effective motivator to reduce and quit use, especially among people with low income and in treatment for substance use disorder. But motivation without support leads to frustration, relapse and missed opportunities. If we treat tobacco use alongside opioid addiction, we can improve recovery outcomes, reduce health costs and save lives.
Some treatment providers are already responding. At Groups, which offers medication-assisted treatment and group therapy for opioid use disorder in communities across Indiana, tobacco cessation is being woven into the recovery process — meeting people where they are and giving them tools to quit both opioids and tobacco. It’s a model more providers and policymakers should follow.
Indiana has one of the higher tobacco use rates in the country and has been hit hard by the opioid crisis. We cannot afford to treat these epidemics in isolation. It’s time to recognize that full recovery means helping people reclaim every part of their health, including freedom from nicotine addiction.
This is a rare and urgent window. Let’s meet it with the tools, funding and compassion it demands.
Angie Vogt is the IN/FL Regional Medical Director for Groups Recover Together. She has been a provider for 13 years and with Groups since 2019. She is absolutely honored to work beside such a committed and compassionate group of people. The passion she has for ensuring comprehensive, high quality care to Groups’ members ties directly to her involvement with cross functional process improvement at the state and national level.
