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 Maryland Leadership Academy for Wellness
Maryland was the fourth state to hold a Leadership Academy on Wellness and Smoking Cession. Beginning the evening of May 31st and all day June 1, 2011, twenty-eight leaders in public health, behavioral health and tobacco control came together for a first-ever Maryland initiative focused on reducing smoking prevalence among people with behavioral health disorders. The summit was supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC).
Renata Henry, M.Ed., Deputy Secretary, Behavioral Health and Disabilities, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, welcomed participants saying, "Expectations are high to institutionalize change. Change is something we know how to do. And we are going to do this!"
Maryland Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, Joshua Sharfstein, M.D., added, "Tobacco is a huge health problem for our clients. It's great that this conversation is happening. We should be prepared to do something different, and I look forward to seeing Action Plan that we will do."
Summit participants came from federal, state, and local agencies, including mental health, addictions, consumer, community services, non-profit, academic, quitline, and chronic disease prevention organizations. Leaders at the summit noted that despite the fact that Maryland ranks 5th in the nation for overall smoking prevalence, people with behavioral health disorders are disproportionately burdened by the harmful effects of tobacco use, and each partner committed to the work, target, and strategies established at the summit.
Douglas Tipperman, MSW, Public Health Advisor, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, SAMHSA, attended on behalf of SAMHSA and also as a committed partner to the Maryland Academy. Mr. Tipperman noted, "SAMHSA is interested in knowing what we can do, and I look forward to coming back a year from now to see the difference we have made in Maryland. Fortunately, I live here and will be able to see that change happen."
Another partner, Frances Phillips, RN, M.H.A., Deputy Secretary of Public Health, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, noted that Maryland used to be a proud tobacco-growing state, but now, "We have a culture change in Maryland, and the state is ready for change with regard to tobacco use in mental health and substance abuse settings." Ms. Phillips added, "It's a lot more effective to save lives millions at a time, so be bold in pushing for what we want to accomplish in our state action plan."
Heeding this advice, the partners adopted the target to reduce smoking prevalence among adult mental health and addictions clients by 20% each by end-of-year 2014.
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