The Bringing Everyone Along (BEA) project was developed to help address a growing need within tobacco dependence treatment to better serve people with mental health and substance use disorders. While the literature on best practices for delivering tobacco dependence treatment for these populations is growing, it is still limited and not yet sufficient to fully guide treatment decisions. Meanwhile, the cost of tobacco and restrictions on smoking in public places are increasing, driving more smokers to attempt to quit.

Download your pdf copy     Resource Guide Resource Guide Summary

The number of smokers who have mental health and substance use disorders (MI/SUD) is substantial. Many of these smokers lack basic information about the harm of smoking and benefits of quitting, are unaware of existing cessation services that can help them, and may have limited access to services that meet their unique needs. As more MI/SUD clients seek and are offered help, current treatment services will need to be adapted, and additional services added and promoted in order to better assist these smokers to quit.

The Bringing Everyone Along project has produced a Resource Guide and Resource Guide Summary developed to assist an array of health professionals to adapt tobacco cessation services to the unique needs of tobacco users with mental illness and substance use disorders. These include:

• Tobacco dependence treatment program directors
• Tobacco treatment specialists
• Mental health and substance use treatment program directors
• Mental health and substance use treatment specialists
• Primary care providers

The Resource Guide aims to be a practical resource based on existing research, insights and advice obtained through key informant surveys of professionals who serve these clients, and the interpretation and recommendations of an Expert Advisory Committee.