Texas Recovery-Oriented Tobacco Cessation Integration Project

ASAP was established in 1993 through the efforts of community based non-profit substance abuse service providers who recognized the need to come together to support the substance abuse service industry across the state of Texas.  ASAP serves as a conduit for disseminating timely information and educational services to providers, facilitating communication, and advocating for effective drug and alcohol policies.

The Texas Recovery-Oriented Tobacco Cessation Integration Project aims to improve the health and wellness of the disparately affected population of adults and young people who are diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder and are being served in DSHS-funded outpatient, pregnant-post-partum intervention (PPI), Oxford House, or Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) substance abuse treatment and recovery programs.  The tobacco use rate of both adults and youth served in DSHS-funded treatment programs is at least triple that of the general population in Texas with only a minimal number of clients reporting that they have quit tobacco use when discharged from treatment.  The need for training is obvious – only 1% of clinicians trained by ASAP in cessation integration strategies were identified within this target group of DSHS providers.

Through activities to disseminate information and create awareness about tobacco cessation integration and the Texas Quitline, develop a recovery coach cessation module, provide regional clinician educational workshops, and support DSHS and provider policies that support cessation integration,  ASAP proposes to improve awareness and knowledge among providers, institutionalize cessation policy implementation, and increase cessation among substance abusers beginning the recovery process through DSHS-funded programs.