Treating nicotine dependency in substance abuse treatment facilities

Patients in treatment for substance abuse use tobacco at an extremely high rate of anywhere from 90-100%. Patients in recovery are dying from tobacco use at a higher rate than from the patients drug of choice. The focus of this presentation is on the details of a grant project in which, through a coalition of substance abuse providers, treatment centers were assisted with policy change toward becoming 100% tobacco free facilities and provided training and technical assistance on treating tobacco dependency in the recovering population at various levels of care. Comprehensive trainings on intervening at all stages of recovery from Intake to Discharge were emphasized as well strategies for providing support to tobacco dependent staff. Education regarding use of NRT and medication was provided as well. Empahasis will be placed on the benefits of a coaltion model approach to creating system-wide change and increasing agency motivation and committment to the issue.