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Table 2 Current regulations in states working toward a state policy (n = 6/50, 12 %)

From: Overview of state policies requiring smoking cessation therapy in psychiatric hospitals and drug abuse treatment centers

State

Proposed policy

Colorado

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) within the Colorado Department of Human Services currently does not have rules related to offering smoking cessation services. The Office, however, does collect data from all licensed substance use disorder (SUD) programs at time of admission and at discharge, and with annual updates for persons served in community mental health centers. The data systems used currently require the collection of tobacco use information for all people served.

SA

OBH does not contractually require the provision of smoking cessation services, though it has worked collaboratively with provider systems to identify model tobacco cessation policies and practices.

Iowa

In 2010–2012, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Tobacco Cessation Division used some federal dollars to set up model tobacco cessation programs in three of the state's larger substance abuse residential units.

SA

Maine

Maine has administered training opportunities consisting of 3 parts (helpline, educational, smoking cessation therapy) for behavioral health patients. The Department of Health and Human Services has also performed small scale and state level projects to evaluate smoking cessation in behavioral health settings, but no statewide law has been enacted that requires this service.

COMBINED

Montana

There is no blanket Montana smoking cessation state policy. However, Montana has one state-managed hospital to treat mental illness and it instituted a tobacco free campus in 2009. This prohibits use and possession by everyone (patients, staff, and visitors) on their campus and provides for patient treatment. Montana also has one state-managed inpatient chemical dependency treatment facility. They also instituted a tobacco free policy in 2011. Additionally, there are two privately operated facilities with tobacco free policies: one is an inpatient facility, and the other is an outpatient facility.

MH

New Mexico

New Mexico does not have a state policy for tobacco cessation services being offered at state residential substance abuse centers. However, the state’s tobacco control program staff are working with private and nonprofit providers to explore voluntary policies to provide tobacco cessation services as part of their package of services for their inpatient and outpatient clients.

SA

Washington

Washington has worked for many years on the effort to integrate cessation and behavioral health with limited success. A few years ago, the Department of Social Health Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) implemented a contractual requirement that providers have smoke-free grounds as part of its efforts. Unfortunately, they were advised by the AG office that such a requirement would need an administrative or statutory mandate. While the current administrative code does not require smoke free grounds, it does require providers to screen clients for tobacco use, so the state has data on how many people entering chemical dependency treatment use tobacco.

COMBINED

  1. Substance abuse (SA) only, mental health (MH) only, combined (substance abuse and mental health)