Tobacco Dependence: Failure to Act = Harm

The time to act is now. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association formed a Tobacco Dependence Task Force (now a Council), held a summit, created a partnership with the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center and set a target to increase by 5% every year the 61% of psychiatric nurses surveyed who refer (assist) smokers to treatment and the 29% who provide an intensive intervention. The group developed an action plan to accomplish this goal and will periodically monitor progress in tobacco reduction.

The time to act is now. Tobacco dependence among the mentally ill contributes to significant increases in chronic illnesses, health care costs and premature deaths. Reducing tobacco dependence must be part of recovery from harm reduction to tobacco cessation. We have the tools for effective intervention.

The time to act is now. Psychiatric nurses are trained in assessing tobacco dependence and the Council, in partnership with the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center, will help mobilize your capacity to act now. The APNA Tobacco Dependence Council will be your conduit for information, resources and communication to act to reduce tobacco dependence.

Tobacco Dependence Information Center