BUFFALO, N.Y. — When you go to the doctor, whether it’s your primary care physician or urgent care, they typically ask you about your alcohol and tobacco use.
National recommendations suggest that every adult be assessed at every clinical visit. However, according to a report published by the National Library of Medicine, tobacco screenings are only happening in around 38% to 70% percent of patients.
In some cases, it’s because of barriers, especially for patients being treated for behavioral health. There’s a push by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to get clinics connected with programs that support those patients.
What You Need To Know
Tobacco screenings are happening in only 38% to 70% percent of patients, when the recommendation is 100%
Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free Western New York is hoping to help behavioral health organizations, and those who help marginalized communities, get connected with cessation services
One health provider says the odds of quitting double when patients work with health care providers
“Seventy percent of smokers who visit their doctor’s office, they want to quit,” said Shannon Waddell-Collins, MPA, TTS, coordinator of health behavior, health systems for a Tobacco Free WNY. “We’ve made some healthy strides. About 55 to 60% of providers do ask, but we are working with organizations that serve marginalized communities. They are busy.”
Busy, Waddell-Collins says, with other health-related priorities.
“I believe that they want to help,” Waddell-Collins said. “But then there are sometimes some other priorities that come first. But when you get that practice to buy into kind of what we’re giving away free, you could have a lot of success.”
Helen Graves, who is the health and wellness counselor at Evergreen Health, says they serve high-need populations. Evergreen has been partnering with Roswell for the past three years as part of its THRIVE Wellness Program.
“Smoking, it is one of those things that helps people with stress and anxiety and things of that nature,” Graves said. “And when you’re battling, having your basic needs met, it is not necessarily the top thing that is able to be addressed.”
But at Evergreen, patients are asked about their commercial tobacco use.
“So, at multiple points of contact, patients are asked, ‘do you smoke?’ ” Graves said. ” ‘What type and how often?’ Those kinds of questions. And then based on their responses, they are then able to be connected with a trained tobacco specialist.”
Specialists are connected to resources at Roswell Park Cessation Services as part of its Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free Western New York program. Ultimately, breaking barriers and getting people healthy.
Tobacco use remains the number one preventable death in New York. It’s much more than a nicotine addiction.
“You can really look at the psychological triggers, environmental situational triggers,” Graves said. “So, it helps to put science behind some of the things that they might feel daily.”
“The odds of quitting double when patients work with health care providers,” Waddell-Collins said.
The program is free, and Roswell is inviting you to connect.
“If you are a behavioral health organization and a medical health organization serving folks living in negative health equity, we will help you,” Waddell-Collins smiled.