SAMHSA Supports World No Tobacco Day
Written By: Doug Tipperman, M.S.W., Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31 to encourage cessation from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe. The World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death. Global tobacco use is responsible for nearly 6 million deaths every year, of which more than 600,000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke.
SAMHSA is working to prevent and reduce tobacco use in the United States including the disproportionate use of tobacco by persons with mental and substance use disorders.
Facts on Tobacco Use Among Persons with Mental and Substance Use Disorders:
- Almost half of the 443,000 tobacco-related deaths in the U.S. each year are people with mental and substance use disorders.
- Tobacco dependence is the most prevalent drug abuse disorder among adults with mental illness.
- Individuals with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years prematurely with tobacco use being a key contributing factor.
- Smoking tobacco causes more deaths among clients who have been in substance abuse treatment than the alcohol or drug use that brought them to treatment.
To help address this problem, SAMHSA is collaborating with other Federal agencies and private organizations to promote, within behavioral health, the implementation of smoke-free policies and integration of smoking cessation. These efforts are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ plans to institute and promote tobacco-free policies and implement comprehensive cessation services tailored for and targeted to high-risk populations.
Resources:
- The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center provides information and resources to address smoking among persons with mental and substance use disorders.
- SAMHSA Advisory: Tobacco Use Cessation During Substance Abuse Treatment Counseling.
- SAMHSA Advisory: Tobacco Use Cessation Policies in Substance Abuse Treatment: Administrative Issues.
If you would like more information on how SAMHSA is addressing tobacco issues, please contact:
Doug Tipperman, M.S.W.
Lead Public Health Advisor
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Rd., Room 4-1081
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 240-276-2442 Fax: 240-276-2580
douglas.tipperman@samhsa.hhs.gov
Very good blog. Thanks.
Great Blog Doug!!!! Very informative.
With the part on cigarettes killing people with substance abuse quicker than the drug or alcohol once the get into treatment I would love to see the statistics showing that and that is assuming the person stays clean. What about the people who relapse and overdose, or get hepatitis c or Aids, and if someone does to much coke, but is a smoker and they have a heart attack is the heart attack because he smoke. I am not saying there isn’t a link between people with substance abuse/mental health because there is you go to a twelve step meeting and the majority of the people smoke I know cause I am in recovery and I smoke. And with all the policies at jobs and laws telling you were and when you can smoke is ridiculous, especially when your outside. And than with all the scar tactics on t.v that doesn’t do any good just a waste of money you cant scare a addict to stop using drugs and you cant scare a person to stop smoking.