The use of tobacco products is the leading cause of premature death for people with mental illness or substance use disorders and contributes to persons with mental illness dying an average of 25 years earlier than the general population. Tobacco is responsible for greater morbidity than alcohol and all other drugs combined and is more deadly to people with substance use disorders than their primary presenting substance used. The towering morbidity and mortality rates in this population are also propelled by chronic diseases associated with tobacco use. These include diabetes, COPD and asthma, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
The Department of Mental Health believes that overall health is essential to mental health and that recovery includes wellness. Reducing or preventing tobacco use among consumers of DMH services is critical to both mental and physical health and wellbeing. Tobacco cessation should be an active goal of every mental health provider.
Below are resources that providers may find useful as they pursue tobacco dependence treatment for both consumers and staff.
- ToolKits and Clinical Guides
Tobacco Treatment for Persons with Substance Use Disorders: A Toolkit for Substance Abuse Treatment Providers, Tobacco Use Recovery Now!, 2008.
A toolkit intended for professionals involved in the delivery of substance abuse treatment—counselors, clinical supervisors, managers, administrators and behavioral health organizations. The toolkit contains a variety of information and step-by-step instructions about low burden means of assessing readiness to quit, possible treatments, referral to community resources, and recommended agency policies for tobacco treatment and control.
- Obtaining Tobacco Cessation Products in MO
MO HealthNet covers tobacco cessation therapy which includes access to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and two (in lifetime) 12 week counseling sessions. This is the Medicaid bulletin that identifies the codes, allowable services and the practitioners covered under the program.
- Mo HealthNet Provider Bulletin April 12, 2011 (Volume 33, Number 39)
- This bulletin covers pharmacologic and behavioral intervention smoking cessation benefits, including reimbursement rates, available through Mo HealthNet.
- MO HealthNet will cover certain medications and behavioral interventions for all MHD covered participants. There are no limitations on the number of attempts to help the participant quit smoking.
- Did You Know that Individuals with Medicare Part D Can Get Prescription Medications to Help Them Quit Smoking?
- Read this informational document to find out more.
- Missouri Tobacco Quitline