Treating tobacco concurrently with other behavioral disorders is safe and maximizes treatment outcomes.
Tobacco interventions integrated into substance use disorder treatment is associated with sustained drug and alcohol recovery. Learning tobacco-free coping skills is correlated with reduced anxiety, less depression and an improvement to overall mood and quality of life.
Person-centered tobacco use disorder interventions do not interfere with treatment access or retention.
Proposed clinical performance standards reflect American Society of Addiction Medicine guidelines and comprise pathways of care that account for individual readiness and self-determination.
Addressing tobacco in behavioral health demonstrates a commitment to health justice.
Tobacco use among Pennsylvanians with mental and substance use disorders is three times higher than the general population. They have disproportional tobacco-related health disparities and inadequate access to appropriate tobacco treatment services. Tobacco interventions tailored to the recovering community shows support for human rights and helps to mitigate social stigma.
Vision
We envision a behavioral health system that fully recognizes that addressing tobacco serves to maximize treatment outcomes, reduce social stigma, mitigate health disparities, and allows all Pennsylvanians to thrive in their recovery.
Supportive Organizations
