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PracticePerspectives

Implementing Smoking Cessation Into Your Social Work Practice

SpringI S S U E

2 0 1 7

In the United States, smoking continuesto be the leading cause of preventabledeath (www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/).Although smoking rates have declinedoverall, individuals with mental health andsubstance use disorders disproportionatelyuse tobacco products, affecting long-termhealth and lifespan. Social workers arein a unique position to advance smokingcessation efforts in their work withindividuals, families and communities.Studies show that most smokers desireto quit and the biggest intervention is toask about their intention, and thenprovide resources such as a quitlinephone number, like 800.QUIT.NOW.

Historical ContextAlthough a variety of biological andenvironmental factors may contribute to higherrates of smoking in individuals with mentalillness, vulnerable populations have beenspecific targets of tobacco companies. “RJReynolds noted that less educated, lowerincome, minority populations were moreimpressionable/susceptible to marketing andadvertising… Free cigarettes were distributedto homeless shelters, mental hospitals andhomeless services organizations…. The tobaccoindustry has also targeted psychiatric hospitalsfor sales promotions and giveaways….”

(www.integration.samhsa.gov/Smoking_Cessation_for_Persons_with_MI.pdf).The legacy of these targeted activities continuesto affect nicotine addiction rates today.

Impact on Health and RecoveryIndividuals with behavioral health conditionshave lower life expectancy and smokingcontributes to higher rates of cancer, heartdisease, lung disease and other illnesses. Acommon misconception among providers isthat people with mental illness don’t desire toquit, or they would experience more stressdoing so. In contrast, research shows thatthose who successfully quit smoking havelower rates of anxiety, re-hospitalization andsuicide (www.integration.samhsa.gov/Smoking_Cessation_for_Persons_with_MI.pdf).Smoking interferes with mental healthrecovery, and can have unintended effects onthe metabolization of psychiatric medications.

A Missed Opportunity Helping clients to quit tobacco should be anintegral part of mental health treatment. In aSAMHSA study, only one quarter of mentalhealth treatment facilities offered services tohelp patients quit smoking (www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/Spot148_NMHSS_Smoking_Cessation/NMHSS-Spot148-QuitSmoking-2014.htm). A patient featured in theCDC’s Tips From Former Smokers campaign,noted that not one of the therapists who

Carrie Dorn, LMSW, MPA

Senior P rac t i ce Assoc ia te

cdorn .nasw@soc ia lworkers .org

750 First Street NE, Suite 800Washington, DC 20002-4241SocialWorkers.org

The NationalAssociation ofSocial Workers

750 First Street NE

Suite 800

Washington, DC 20002-4241

SocialWorkers.org

©2017 National Association ofSocial Workers. All Rights Reserved.

Practice Perspectives Spring 2017

Social workers are in

a unique position to

advance smoking

cessation efforts in

their work with

individuals, families

and communities.

provided treatment for depression and anxietyaddressed tobacco use and the link to overallhealth. (www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/rebecca.html).This is a missed opportunity that has a life-longimpact on health and families. With an emphasison wellness and holistic health, social workerscan leverage the motivation of clients to addressthe risks associated with smoking and connectthem to resources.

Social Work InterventionsMotivational interviewing and brief interventions,including brief cognitive-behavioral therapy, havebeen shown to be effective to promote smokingcessation. A more comprehensive approach mayinclude a combination of peer support, behavioralhealth services and medication.

The simple model of the 5 As is one approachthat is being taught to a range of health careprofessionals and providers (www.ahrq.gov/professionals/clinicians-providers/guidelines-recommendations/tobacco/5steps.html):

• Ask: Identify and document tobacco usestatus for every patient at every visit.

• Advise: In a clear, strong, and personalizedmanner, urge every tobacco user to quit.

• Assess: Is the tobacco user willing to make aquit attempt at this time? Determine readinessto change and explore costs and benefits.

• Assist: Help the patient willing to make aquit attempt within the next 30 days.

• Arrange: Schedule follow-up contact, inperson or by telephone, preferably withinthe first week after the quit date.

Incentive PaymentsA smoking cessation quality measure has beendeveloped for use by clinical social workers andMedicare providers. This measure meets reportingrequirements for Medicare’s Merit Based IncentivePayment System known as MIPS. When properlyused along with other measures, Medicareproviders may receive a bonus incentive payment.The following link provides information about MIPS:www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/MACRA-MIPS-and-APMs/Quality-Payment-Program-MIPS-NPRM-Slides.pdf

ResourcesOffering resources and posting quitline numberscan be a critical step. Many resources are nowavailable 24 hours a day, via phone, apps or

text message, and can support someone in theirquit attempt immediately. Social workers may findthe following smoking cessation resources helpful.

Quit Tobacco • www.ucanquit2.org For US military, sponsored by the US Departmentof Defense

SmokeFreeMIL • Text MIL to 4784824/7 program that provides text message support

US Department of Health & Human Serviceshttps://betobaccofree.hhs.gov/quit-now/index.html

Smoking Quitline • 877.44U.QUITLive Chat & Mobile Apps

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Tips From Former Smokerswww.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips

800.QUIT.NOW • www.cdc.gov/tobacco

Practice ResourcesNASW Webinar: Integrating Smoking Cessationinto Clinical Practicewww.socialworkers.org/sections/teleconferences/tcourses/Default.aspx?courseID=5226c324-d027-4509-a498-913fe542ebe8&header=OFFFor Specialty Practice Section Members Only

Smoking Cessation Leadership Centerhttp://smokingcessationleadership.ucsf.edu/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health ServicesAdministration (SAMHSA)www.samhsa.gov/atod/tobacco

Rutgers Tobacco Dependence Program–CertifiedTobacco Treatment Specialist Training www.tobaccoprogram.org/

Learning About Healthy Living Manualhttp://rwjms.rutgers.edu/departments_institutes/psychiatry/divisions/addiction/community/choices.html

Rx for Change • http://rxforchange.ucsf.edu/

Wisconsin Nicotine Treatment Integration Projecthttp://go.wisc.edu/4n5r36

Policy ResourcesCampaign for Tobacco–Free Kidswww.tobaccofreekids.org

Action on Smoking and Health • http://ash.org/

Other ResourcesThe Truth Initiative • www.thetruth.com

The Real Cost–FDA’s Center for Tobacco Productshttps://therealcost.betobaccofree.hhs.gov

PracticePerspectives

Implementing Smoking Cessation Into Your Social Work Practice

SpringI S S U E

2 0 1 7

In the United States, smoking continuesto be the leading cause of preventabledeath (www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/).Although smoking rates have declinedoverall, individuals with mental health andsubstance use disorders disproportionatelyuse tobacco products, affecting long-termhealth and lifespan. Social workers arein a unique position to advance smokingcessation efforts in their work withindividuals, families and communities.Studies show that most smokers desireto quit and the biggest intervention is toask about their intention, and thenprovide resources such as a quitlinephone number, like 800.QUIT.NOW.

Historical ContextAlthough a variety of biological andenvironmental factors may contribute to higherrates of smoking in individuals with mentalillness, vulnerable populations have beenspecific targets of tobacco companies. “RJReynolds noted that less educated, lowerincome, minority populations were moreimpressionable/susceptible to marketing andadvertising… Free cigarettes were distributedto homeless shelters, mental hospitals andhomeless services organizations…. The tobaccoindustry has also targeted psychiatric hospitalsfor sales promotions and giveaways….”

(www.integration.samhsa.gov/Smoking_Cessation_for_Persons_with_MI.pdf).The legacy of these targeted activities continuesto affect nicotine addiction rates today.

Impact on Health and RecoveryIndividuals with behavioral health conditionshave lower life expectancy and smokingcontributes to higher rates of cancer, heartdisease, lung disease and other illnesses. Acommon misconception among providers isthat people with mental illness don’t desire toquit, or they would experience more stressdoing so. In contrast, research shows thatthose who successfully quit smoking havelower rates of anxiety, re-hospitalization andsuicide (www.integration.samhsa.gov/Smoking_Cessation_for_Persons_with_MI.pdf).Smoking interferes with mental healthrecovery, and can have unintended effects onthe metabolization of psychiatric medications.

A Missed Opportunity Helping clients to quit tobacco should be anintegral part of mental health treatment. In aSAMHSA study, only one quarter of mentalhealth treatment facilities offered services tohelp patients quit smoking (www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/Spot148_NMHSS_Smoking_Cessation/NMHSS-Spot148-QuitSmoking-2014.htm). A patient featured in theCDC’s Tips From Former Smokers campaign,noted that not one of the therapists who

Carrie Dorn, LMSW, MPA

Senior P rac t i ce Assoc ia te

cdorn .nasw@soc ia lworkers .org

750 First Street NE, Suite 800Washington, DC 20002-4241SocialWorkers.org

The NationalAssociation ofSocial Workers

750 First Street NE

Suite 800

Washington, DC 20002-4241

SocialWorkers.org

©2017 National Association ofSocial Workers. All Rights Reserved.

Practice Perspectives Spring 2017

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