Increasing the use of Arizona's tobacco quitline by those with mental health challenges: A systems change approach

Arizona's Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease recognized that Arizonan's with chronic mental health issues are dying 30 years younger than the general population and that much of this is due to tobacco use. Strategic planning sessions were held with the director of the Arizona Smokers' Helpline, key staff from the Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease and key staff from the Division of Behavioral Health to address increasing the use of the State's quitline by this vulnerable population. A proposal was submitted to the Center for Disease Control and fully funded to address this issue as a system problem. This presentation will outline the important findings that led to this decision to focus on a vulnerable population, examine the steps that were taken to develop a strong collaboration of partners that are committed to adding tobacco cessation to the treatment planning of those with mental health challenges and review the impact of the early stages of the project to bring key players together in the behavioral health community. This initiative aims to include consumers, practitioners, medical professionals and families in developing a systematic approach to increasing awareness of tobacco cessation research and increasing the use of a referral-based system to increase the use of the tobacco quitline by those with mental health challenges complicated by tobacco use.