The CDC found that incorporating tobacco cessation treatments and policies helped decrease tobacco use among patients with behavioral health conditions.
The April 24 study analyzed data from 9,856 mental health facilities and 14,620 substance use facilities. Here are five findings:
1. In 2023, counseling was the most common tobacco cessation service in mental health and substance use treatment facilities (52.1% versus 69.9%, respectively). Tobacco-free policies were reported at 53.9% of mental health and 33.9% of substance use facilities.
2. Fewer than half of facilities offered tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy. Nicotine replacement therapy was offered at 35% of mental health and 40.2% of substance use facilities, and non-nicotine cessation medication was offered at 33.6% of mental health and 35.3% of substance use facilities.
3. The highest percentage of facilities offering tobacco-related clinical services were public agency-operated facilities and hospital inpatient facilities.
4. Idaho had the smallest percentage of mental health facilities offering cessation counseling at 30.3%, compared to 88.4% of facilities in South Carolina.
5. Nicotine replacement therapy was least common in South Carolina (14%) and most common in New Hampshire (65%) among mental health facilities.
“Evidence-based cessation treatments and tobacco-free policies support and increase smoking cessation, which has positive physical health impacts and is associated with positive behavioral health outcomes,” the CDC authors wrote. “Implementation of these strategies in substance use and mental health treatment facilities could help decrease tobacco use among persons with behavioral health conditions.”
