Date of Award

Fall 11-9-2010

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

Public Health

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Eriksen

Second Advisor

Dr. Bruce Perry

Abstract

Individuals with a substance addiction and/or mental illness use tobacco at rates much higher than the general population. Approximately 21% of the U.S. population smokes, yet 40%-80% of substance abuse and mental health patients smoke and consume more than 44% of all the cigarettes sold in the United States each year. As a result, these individuals experience increased tobacco related morbidity and mortality. Tobacco use is common and accepted within this population, and has become a norm even within treatment programs. Only 30%-40% of treatment facilities offer smoking cessation resources, and many organizations are hesitant to address cessation or to adopt a tobacco-free campus policy. This toolkit addresses the unique barriers and challenges that a residential substance addiction facility will face when adopting a tobacco-free policy. A tobacco-free campus policy protects all individuals from dangerous secondhand smoke and promotes the health and recovery of clients from all addictions, including nicotine. This toolkit provides step-by-step information and resources to allow a facility to become tobacco-free and implement a full smoking cessation program over a six month time period. This project helps fill a need for specific resources related to concurrent smoking cessation and substance abuse/mental health treatment. This resource will be made available to residential substance abuse facilities in Georgia and will be provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s Smoking Cessation Leadership Center.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/1638895

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