Tobacco Use Treatment for People Balancing Behavioral Health Issues
Tobacco use is a significant obstacle to the health of people living with behavioral health issues. People with behavioral health issues (substance use or mental health disorders) have less access to tobacco treatment services across the healthcare spectrum. Yet, studies have shown that as many as 80% of clients in behavioral health treatment are interested in tobacco cessation. The good news is that when behavioral health specialists and their staff make tobacco treatment part of their routine clinical approach by offering counseling and medications, they increase their patient’s chances for quitting.
In 2023, the New Hampshire (NH) Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services (BDAS) and the NH Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (TPCP) worked together with staff at John Snow Inc./Community Health Institute to develop a pilot project with Farnum Center in Manchester, NH to enhance the skills and abilities of substance use treatment providers to support their clients with tobacco use disorder. Working with clinical and administrative staff, improvements were made to: workflow, intake, documentation, signage, staff and patient education, and breaks. If you would like more information about the lessons learned from this pilot or want support integrating tobacco use treatment into your practice, contact us at quitworksnh@gmail.com.
Refer Your Patients Balancing Behavioral Health Issues to a Quit Coach
Watch this 3-minute video to learn how to refer your clients to the free coaching services at QuitNow-NH and visit our patient referral page. Download this factsheet to learn more about the impact that quitting tobacco can have on behavioral health.
Available Training
Start the following available training today to learn techniques that you can use with patients balancing behavioral health issues to motivate small changes towards improved health. Make sure to also share with other behavioral health staff!
QuitWorks-NH Motivational Interviewing eLearing Module
Our module on motivational interviewing is one of several in the series aimed at expanding your knowledge and skills in working with patients with tobacco dependence. Motivational interviewing is a style of communicating that helps motivate change. It can be an effective approach to help people change undesired behaviors. After completing this module, you will be able to discuss how to effectively engage in a patient-centered conversation using motivational interviewing.
Wisconsin Nicotine Treatment Integration Project (WiNTiP) Training for Behavioral Health Professionals
This training highlights the direct experience of behavioral health professionals who have integrated the treatment of tobacco dependence into their treatment settings. You will learn how to make your treatment program tobacco free and how to integrate the treatment of tobacco dependence into your current clinical services. This training is appropriate for all behavioral health professionals: those that provide direct care and those that administer treatment programs; those that work in a mental health treatment setting and those that work in a substance use disorder treatment setting.
Refer Your Patients to a Quit Coach
Submit a Provider Web Referral or E-Referral through the EMR.
Choose the most convenient method for YOUR practice!