ABCs of Tobacco - Part I

Participants learned about the background of the tobacco industry to better understand how the tobacco epidemic emerged, as well as about the ingredients of tobacco smoke and how smoking causes harm.

ABCs of Tobacco - Part II

This session reviewed tobacco control policies that reduce smoking rates, including taxation, smoke-free ordinances, counter-marketing and cessation.

Epidemiology of Smoking

Smoking rates are at a modern low, and those who continue to smoke are smoking fewer cigarettes than they did in the past. However, smoking has become concentrated among vulnerable populations. This session examined the prevalence rates among these groups, including those with mental health and substance use disorders, and other vulnerable populations (homeless, incarcerated, LGBTQ).

Smoking Cessation Interventions: The 5As

The classic approach to smoking cessation, this session looked at clinicians performing the 5As: Ask about smoking; Advise about quitting; Assess readiness to quit; Assist in quitting; Arrange follow-up.

Smoking Cessation Interventions: Overview of the Services, Treatment, and Effectiveness of Telephone Quitlines

Participants learned about the services and treatment offered by quitlines, how they can be used to effectively help smokers quit and how they partner with community and clinical organizations.

Smoking Cessation Interventions: Counseling/Motivational Interviewing

Counseling smokers about how to quit is an essential part of smoking cessation. This session provided key counseling pointers, including how to motivate smokers hesitant about quitting and special populations.

Smoking Cessation Interventions: Pharmacotherapy/7 FDA-approved medications

Evidence shows the chances of quitting smoking are greatly improved by combining counseling with smoking cessation medications. This session reviewed the 7 FDA-approved medications to help smokers quit.

Special Topics: E-cigarettes and Vaping

Several alternative nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes, have recently emerged. This session discussed the controversy over the use of these products concerning whether or not they are harmful, whether or not they help smokers quit, and whether or not they are dangerous for young people.

Vulnerable Populations: Behavioral Health

This session highlighted the smoking disparity among those with behavioral health conditions, the difficulty of getting inpatient treatment settings to focus on cessation, evidence-based cessation practices tailored to this population, and health and recovery outcomes related to quitting.

Vulnerable Populations: Who’s Still Smoking

Despite the overall substantial decrease in the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the United States in the last 50 years, there remain persistent disparities in cigarette smoking prevalence and secondhand smoke exposure among certain groups, including individuals in lower education and/or socioeconomic groups; from certain racial/ethnic groups; in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; with mental illness; and in the military, particularly among those in the lowest pay grades.

Special Topics: Effective Messaging to Current Smokers

Most smokers understand that smoking is bad for them, but many are resistant to quitting. This session examined which messages work – and which don’t – to motivate smokers to try to quit.

Special Topics: Plan Effective Cessation Events/Great American Smokeout

Participants learned tips and tools to make their cessation events, including the Great American Smokeout, inviting for those who are considering quitting smoking and their loved ones.

Special Topics: Reimbursement and Billing

Smoking cessation counseling is a billable activity for most health insurers, including Medicaid programs. Participants learned learned how to ensure everything is captured and discuss coding.

Systems Change: Establishing Formal Referral Programs with Quitlines, CHCs, and PHAs

Participants learned how quitlines can collaborate with CHCs and PHAs to connect residents to tobacco cessation resources and enable secure information exchange and coordination of services.

Special Topics: How Quitting Improves Wellness

This session discussed the many important benefits of quitting smoking, including health and wellness, eased financial burdens, potentially more affordable insurance, etc.

Special Topics: Legal/Resident Concerns with the Smoke-free Rule

Participants explored some of the legal questions around the smoke-free rule so you’re better able to answer patient and resident inquiries and issues with compliance.

Special Topics: Second-and Third-Hand Smoke

Nonsmokers can be injured by exposure to the smoke exhaled by smokers. This session examined the effects of exposure to nonsmokers, both through breathing second-hand smoke and through third-hand smokinginvolving the smoke residues that accumulate on carpets, furniture, curtains, and other environmental objects.

Smoke-free Policies

This session gave a refresher on the HUD smoke-free rule and examine where smoke-free policies are heading.

Special Topics: Helping Staff Quit Smoking

Many staff at CHCs and PHAs smoke themselves. Experience has shown that helping staff to quit smoking is an important component of smoking cessation programs. This session reviewed ways to help staff either quit or refrain from smoking while on the job.

Systems Change/Workflow: Building Connections Between CHCs, PHAs, and Quitlines

Quitlines, health centers, and housing authorities all have an interest in smoking cessation. However, each group has its own procedures and cultures. This session sought to better connect these organizations to help smokers quit.

Special Topics: Harm Reduction

Harm reduction refers to switching from combustible tobacco products, like cigarettes, to less harmful products. This session looked at harm reduction in depth.

Special Topics: Current Landscape of Cessation Efforts in Behavioral Health

This session explored considerations around smokers who have mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Previously, smoking was thought to be less important to address than other conditions, and sometimes even considered to be a part of the treatment itself. Current research indicates that quitting smoking not only improves overall health but is an important component of improving mental health and reducing the risk of substance abuse.

Systems Change/Workflow: Office Champions

Smoking cessation activities are greatly enhanced when there is a project champion in the office. This session reviewed how to select such champions, outline their functions, and describe how they can be supported.

Special Topics: Help with Relapses

Most smokers attempt to quit many times before they’re successful. This can be demotivating. This session will review the evidence about smoking relapses, how to address those smokers, and ways to help them quit again.

Wrap Up - Part I

Wrap Up - Part II