Though it has become mandatory for public health facilities to become smoke-free it has been difficult to implement this policy in particular in detox, drug and alcohol units and mental health units.
Particularly complex in-patients in detox units have smoking patients objecting to a smoke free environment, commonly flout regulations, become argumentative and often self-discharge.
Adults with mental illness, including substance use disorder (SUD,) are at risk of dying 25 years earlier than the general population. The major contributor to this premature mortality is smoking-related disease. While cigarette smoking has trended downward in recent years, it is still highly prevalent in adults with mental health and/or substance use disorder (MH/SUD).
Tobacco is the world’s leading but preventable cause of disease and death. Although cigarette smoking among adults has been steadily decreasing, rates continue to remain high amongst certain vulnerable populations. This includes individuals with mental health issues.