Rethink Tobacco Indiana

Who we are

Rethink Tobacco Indiana is a statewide initiative aimed at bringing tobacco awareness to the field of behavioral health and providing support to behavioral health treatment centers to integrate evidence-based tobacco interventions. Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

In 2022, more American adults died from tobacco-related illnesses than  from murder, suicide, traffic deaths, and AIDS combined, according to the CDC. Tobacco use rates, specifically cigarette smoking, are disproportionately higher among individuals with a history of mental health conditions or substance use disorders. While representing about 25% of adults in the United States, adults with behavioral health conditions consume almost 40% of all cigarettes smoked by adults across the country.

Making changes

The population most affected by these statistics lacks access to evidence-based tobacco use treatment. Rethink Tobacco Indiana is working to change that for Hoosiers.

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Our goals and objectives

  • Reduce the prevalence of tobacco use among people with mental health diagnoses or substance abuse disorders.
  • Provide technical assistance to support behavioral health organizations (e.g. CMHCs, addiction treatment centers, etc.) with integrating evidence-based tobacco treatment services, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, to improve the delivery of these services.
  • Increase the proportion of tobacco-free campus policies for hospitals, health care centers, community mental health centers, residential treatment settings, and addiction treatment centers.
  • Educate current and future healthcare providers to implement recommendations set forth in the 2008 (updated) Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence through broad-scale dissemination efforts that include in-person and interactive web-based trainings. Increase the number of behavioral health treatment center work sites that provide employer-sponsored tobacco treatment services and benefits for employees who use tobacco products.
  • Promote available resources to behavioral health organizations and communities, including QuitNowIndiana.com, the state’s tobacco quitline.

At Indiana Addiction Issues Coalition, our message is that addiction is a disease, treatment works and recovery is possible. This is true for tobacco as well. Working in the field of addiction, this gets overlooked consistently. Deaths related to tobacco are significantly higher than any illicit substance yet gets the least attention. People need access to medication and other lifesaving interventions. I’m glad that here in Indiana we have people like Debi [Buckles] spreading this message and educating the people of Indiana.

Brandon George — Director of Indiana Addiction Issues Coalition

I believe tobacco treatment is essential to recovery.

Stephen McCaffrey — President and CEO of Mental Health America of Indiana

You know, we have had data on recovery rates for addiction to alcohol and drugs with tobacco cessation as part of the entire recovery plan for many years. There is a 25% better chance of long-term recovery with tobacco cessation, and I don’t see our industry making tobacco cessation a standard of care. Let’s hope this changes, and soon. Tell me any other single behavior that has such an impact on long term recovery.

Jim Ryser — Former Director of Pain Services and Chemical Dependency Program at IU Health Methodist Hospital

Tobacco may seem harmless due to not having the quick detrimental effects as other drugs like heroin, crack, and alcohol, but tobacco use is linked to killing more and costing more than all substance use put together. Unfortunately, children are some of those affected, not just through smoking themselves, but rather by second and third hand smoke. Tobacco use disorder is treatable and increases the chance of long-term recovery by 25% when treated with other substance use disorders based off a meta-analysis of smoking cessation.

Nick Svetlauskas — Former Bureau Chief of Addiction Services | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction

Upcoming Events

TTS Training

The TTS Training program is an intensive, evidence-based hybrid training program for people who want to work with tobacco-dependent clients. The curriculum is a nationally accredited by the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP) that addresses a set of core competencies for tobacco treatment specialists as defined by the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence (ATTUD).

Oct. 21-23

Tobacco Free Recovery Workshop

Rethink Tobacco Indiana will present a six-hour Tobacco Free Recovery Workshop. This workshop is designed for those who interact with people with behavioral health conditions and have an interest in learning about evidence-based tobacco treatment strategies.

Who should attend?

Addiction Counselors, Mental Health Counselors, Peer Support Specialists, Community Health Workers, Pharmacists, Physicians, Social Workers, Nurses

Sept. 11 in Carmel

Register here

Ready to quit?

1-800-QUIT NOW

CALL NOW

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