The Issue: People with Behavioral Health Conditions Lack Access to Evidence Based Tobacco Use Treatment
While states have made important progress over the past decade, tobacco and nicotine use is concentrated among certain populations – including people with behavioral health conditions. Many behavioral health organizations are taking the important first step by asking people about tobacco use. However, too many stop there. While most facilities screen for tobacco use, counseling is not yet available in all settings and fewer than half provide nicotine replacement therapy or other FDA-approved medications, despite strong evidence that combining counseling, medication, and recovery support gives people the best chance of success.
The Opportunity: State Leaders Navigating and Sustaining Impact - Peer to Peer Learning and Action
The public health landscape is shifting at the federal and state-level. These shifts bring challenges and new opportunities to leverage existing resources and work together in new ways to ensure the public’s health. A renewed national focus on chronic disease prevention, expanded flexibility through Medicaid, and the ability to braid and blend funding across behavioral health, public health, Medicaid, settlement funds, and other state and local resources provide new pathways to strengthen and sustain tobacco use treatment services. The Learning Community creates a space to navigate this transformation alongside peers doing the same work in their own states.
Learn More
Applications for the third learning community cohort are now closed. Sign up for our mailing list to learn about future opportunities.
Questions?
Contact David Davis, Project Director: tfr.contact@caiglobal.org or 929-581-0861.
This opportunity is made possible by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which has awarded Cicatelli Associates Inc. (CAI) funding to administer the National Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Recovery.