CMHC Tobacco Free

CMHC plans to become a tobacco-free campus as early as January 1, 2010

Why????

• Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness (PDF)
• "...persons with serious mental illness (SMI) are now dying 25 years earlier than the general population." – National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors

Smokers with behavioral health disorders have:

• more psychiatric symptoms
• increased hospitalizations
• and require higher dosages of medications

(Brown et al., 2000; Colton & Manderscheid, 2006; Dixon et al., 1999; Joukamaa et al., 2001; Osby et al., 2000; Dalack & Glassman, 1992; Desai, Seabolt, & Jann, 2001; Goff, Henderson, & Amico, 1992; Williams & Ziedonis, 2004; Ziedonis, Kosten, Glazer, & Frances, 1994)

• Marketing to the marginalized: tobacco industry targeting of the homeless and mentally ill (PDF)

Resources:

• Colorado QuitLine Services
• View a 30 second video that illustrates the health risks of smoking, emphasizing that the damage can be reversed if you quit now. http://youtu.be/iWpVTKbk8-U