The Tobacco, Addictions, Policy and Education (TAPE) Project:
Services for BSAS Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Since 1994, the Tobacco, Addictions, Policy and Education (TAPE) Project has been a leader in helping substance abuse and mental health treatment programs in Massachusetts, the United States and Canada address tobacco dependence with clients and staff through consultation, technical assistance, and training.
In Massachusetts, the TAPE Project is available to work with all programs in the statewide Bureau of Substance Abuse Services system, and offers the following services free of cost to DPH-funded programs:
- Consultation and staff training on a range of issues, including:
- Understanding nicotine addiction and its impact on overall health and recovery from substance abuse
- Treating nicotine addiction utilizing evidence-based, Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing approaches
- Integrating tobacco education and treatment into substance abuse treatment programs and aftercare planning
- "For Smokers Only: Thinking about Change?" workshops to help program staff members explore personal barriers to and strategies for stopping smoking in a supportive group setting. This workshop can be scheduled after an initial general staff training.
- Technical assistance and training to facilitate development and implementation of the BSAS Tobacco Guidelines (www.mass.gov/dph/bsas/funding/tobacco/tobacco.htm) and smoke-free or tobacco-free worksite policies.
- Referrals to and information about the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program (MTCP), Try to STOP TOBACCO Resource Center, local tobacco treatment programs, Nicotine Anonymous meetings, and other resources for help to treat and recover from nicotine dependence.
The BSAS Tobacco Guidelines require all programs to designate a Tobacco Education Coordinator (TEC). TECs assist program directors in implementing the Tobacco Guidelines and take a lead in coordinating integration of tobacco education. TAPE Project staff hold meetings twice a year in each region to support and train TECs, and ongoing technical assistance is available by phone and email. Announcements of TEC meetings are mailed to programs and listed at the BSAS website, (www.mass.gov/dph/bsas/funding/tobacco/tobacco.htm).
Skills and Principles of Treating Nicotine Addiction: A Self-guided Training Manual for Substance Abuse Treatment Providers, published by the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, the TAPE Project, and the Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control, University of Massachusetts Medical School, will be available in early 2007.
The TAPE Project staffs and supports the COUNCIL TO END NICOTINE ADDICTION IN RECOVERY (CENAR), a diverse, voluntary group of providers with Massachusetts Department of Public Health representation committed to supporting the integration of tobacco education, assessment and treatment into the statewide substance abuse prevention and treatment system. CENAR began meeting in 1994 in response to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services initiative to address tobacco use in the statewide substance abuse treatment system. CENAR provides feedback to the Department of Public Health and the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, communicating information and input from substance abuse providers on relevant tobacco-free policy and treatment issues, and has played an ongoing role in the development and review of the BSAS Tobacco Guidelines. At bimonthly meetings, CENAR members share resources and experience and mentor other BSAS programs in various stages of addressing tobacco use.
CENAR meets at the Central Massachusetts Regional Center for Healthy Communities. Directions can be found at www.cmchc.org. In 2007, meetings will take place on 1/12/07, 3/9/07, 5/11/07, and 7/13/07 from 10AM-noon. Each meeting features a short presentation on topics chosen by CENAR members, such as running a tobacco education group and using NRT as a tobacco treatment strategy. CENAR also organizes and sponsors an annual conference around topics related to treatment of tobacco dependence in substance abuse treatment settings.
For more information about the TAPE Project, and to join or inquire about CENAR, contact Janet Smeltz, Director, at tape@healthrecovery.org, or Marilyn Huffman, Tobacco Education and Treatment Specialist, at marilynhuffman@healthrecovery.org.
See HISTORY page for previous projects addressing tobacco prevention and treatment issues.