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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Danielle W. Toussaint, PhD¹, Meredith Silverstein, PhD¹, Ellen Brown, PhD¹, Bill Wendt, JD², and Erik Stone, MS². (1) Colorado Social Research Associates, 3530 W. Lehigh Avenue, Denver, CO 80236, 303-412-3995, dtoussaint@ahinc.org, (2) Signal Behavioral Health Network, 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80204

Approximately 70% or more of clients seeking substance abuse treatment are heavy smokers, compared to 20-30% in the general population. Substance abuse treatment settings have largely neglected offering tobacco cessation programs, believing that it would interfere with substance abuse treatment and that clients would not be interested. Yet recent literature has demonstrated that smoking can trigger relapse or cravings for alcohol and/or drugs; thus, tobacco cessation may play an important role in comprehensive substance abuse treatment. Signal Behavioral Health Network, a managed services organization providing publicly funded substance abuse treatment in 35 Colorado counties, contracted with Colorado Social Research Associates to develop an action plan for incorporating tobacco cessation programs into its network. The first step explores the prevalence of client and staff tobacco use, outlines the barriers and facilitators to integrating tobacco cessation programs into provider settings, and evaluates the context in which changes may occur. In February 2006, cross-sectional surveys will be administered to approximately 1,110 residential and outpatient clients and 480 staff at 8 Signal community providers. We will report survey findings on prevalence and dependence among staff and clients, identify personal and professional risks and benefits perceived by clients and staff, recommend resources and organizational change needed to help establish and maintain tobacco cessation programs, and discuss the impact of findings on the action plan.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Outline barriers to integrating tobacco cessation programs into substance abuse treatment programs
• Identify risks and benefits perceived by staff and clients
• Discuss how to integrate tobacco cessation and substance abuse treatment successfully.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered