Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Awardees Celebrated

Jan 17, 2024

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 17, 2024) — Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning’s (BH WELL) tobacco treatment awards were presented virtually on November 8, 2023, at the workshop, Integrating Tobacco and Nicotine Treatment into Substance Use Disorder Recovery. The 2023 awards honor one behavioral health organization and one tobacco treatment specialist working to integrate tobacco treatment in behavioral health settings. These awards focus on behavioral health because individuals living with mental and behavioral health conditions use tobacco products at rates twice that of individuals not living with mental and behavioral health conditions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that the most prevalent causes of death among individuals living with behavioral health conditions — heart disease, cancer and lung disease — can all be caused by tobacco use. It is vital for behavioral health organizations to integrate tobacco and nicotine treatment into the recovery process for people working toward substance use disorder recovery.

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The BH WELL Tobacco Treatment Integration Award

The BH WELL Tobacco Treatment Integration Award honors a behavioral health organization that has demonstrated not only commitment toward smoke-free policy implementation, but also tobacco treatment service integration. RiverValley Behavioral Health is the recipient of the 2023 BH WELL Tobacco Treatment Integration Award. The awardee was honored for successfully implementing a tobacco-free policy and integrated tobacco treatment for clients and staff. RiverValley Behavioral Health is a regional Community Mental Health Center serving seven Western Kentucky counties and offering a full range of behavioral health services, substance use treatment, and intellectual and disabilities services to adults, children, adolescents, and their families. They focus on providing individualized, trauma-informed, evidence-based care. RiverValley Behavioral Health’s dedication to a smoke-free environment in their community exemplifies the important connection between behavioral health and tobacco treatment. Dr. Deborah Bradford accepted the award on behalf of RiverValley Behavioral Health. Dr. Bradford serves as the Vice President of Outpatient Services and was instrumental in the implementation of the organization’s new policy.

The BH WELL Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trailblazer Award

The BH WELL Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trailblazer Award is presented to a tobacco treatment specialist who has devoted time to educating and assessing tobacco related needs in patients. Jackie Merrill is the recipient of the 2023 BH WELL Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trailblazer Award. The awardee has made exceptional contributions in providing tobacco treatment for those living with mental or behavioral health challenges. Merrill is an Advanced Practiced Family Nurse Practitioner who has worked at RiverValley Behavioral Health since 2020. Merrill has helped develop their primary care outpatient services and supported the medication-assisted treatment program. Colleagues describe Merrill as a great leader and supporter of integrated tobacco treatment services at RiverValley Behavioral Health.

Housed within the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, BH WELL exists to promote behavioral health and wellness among individuals facing behavioral health challenges. The BH WELL research team members are experts in behavioral health integration and change. They provide the essentials of mental and behavioral health support: practice, research, education, scholarship and service.

The BH WELL awardees were selected by a blind, external review panel. For more information about the behavioral health tobacco treatment awards or BH WELL, contact Chizimuzo “Zim” Okoli, Ph.D., at ctokol1@uky.edu or 859-323-6606.