Behavioral Health
Why Focus on Tobacco Dependence Treatment in the Behavioral Health Sector?
In the U.S., approximately one in four adults have some form of mental illness or substance use disorder yet they consume nearly 40% of all cigarettes smoked by adults. Twice as many Kansas adults who are current smokers experienced 14 or more days of poor mental health in the 30 days prior to being surveyed (30.2%) compared to nonsmokers (14.3%).1 Research has shown that those with behavioral health conditions who are current smokers are four times more likely to have a premature death than non-smokers.2 This is a preventable health disparity in our state and country.
Substance abuse and mental health treatment facilities in Kansas have opportunities to improve tobacco dependence treatment interventions and policies to help more Kansans quit tobacco. Kansas substance abuse treatment organizations lag behind the national averages. See figures in the Data tab.
Tobacco Cessation Intervention Data
Figure 1. Tobacco Cessation Interventions and Smoke-Free Polices in Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, Kansas vs. United States, 2023
Figure 2. Tobacco Cessation Interventions and Smoke-Free Policies in Mental Health Treatment Facilities, Kansas vs. United States, 2023
Provider Directory
The Kansas Tobacco Dependence Treatment Provider Directory (PDF) was created using data from a provider survey to determine the capacity of Kansas health care practitioners to provide evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment. It is updated by University of Kansas Tobacco Treatment Education. The Directory includes providers in many counties throughout Kansas. It is meant to be used by health care providers and other entities for referral for tobacco dependence treatment as well as by patients seeking treatment.
Guidelines for Behavioral Healthcare
Many statewide and local organizations have been working to increase provider and client education about this topic, while reducing barriers to treatment. All health organizations are encouraged to do the following:
- Endorse the Kansas Tobacco Guideline for Behavioral Healthcare,
- Complete the accompanying assessment with an internal committee, and
- Start enhancing their tobacco dependence screening, treatment and referral systems.
- Review the Tobacco Guideline Self-Assessment.
- Review the Implementation Toolkit for the Kansas Tobacco Guideline for Behavioral Health Care.
Together we can continue making statewide progress in raising awareness of this disparity and providing support to our community behavioral health facilities to elevate tobacco screening and treatment to the same level as any other substance.
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Matt Schrock
Tobacco Quitline Coordinator