The Rationale Addressing Tobacco Use in Behavioral Health Services

This presentation thoroughly explores the bio-psycho-social aspects of tobacco use disorder specific to individuals with mental and substance use disorders. Data are reviewed to explain a high smoking prevalence, severity of tobacco use disorder, disproportionate health consequences, and the origin of common misconceptions that sustain smoking as a social norm in the recovery and treatment culture. Evidence-based tobacco interventions and strategy to denormalize tobacco within a recovery-oriented framework are provided.

Participants will demonstrate an understanding of the basis for the social acceptance of tobacco use in the behavioral health setting and that treating tobacco use disorder is safe, improves program outcomes, contributes to longer term sobriety, reduces social stigma, and enhances the health and quality of life of people in recovery. The interactive training will include chat box communication to advance participant capacity to adopt tobacco interventions within a context of a recovery-oriented systems of care model.

Learning Objectives:

Define the origin of prevailing tobacco-related social norms in the recovery and treatment culture.
Identify and counter 6 harmful misconceptions that serve to sustain tobacco use.
Cite 3 strategies to promote evidence-based tobacco use disorder interventions within a recovery-oriented framework.

Intended Audience:

All employees who work in behavioral health services, including clinical and non-clinical staff, peer specialists, interns, volunteers and community allies.