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Tobacco, Nicotine and PTSD
August 21 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tobacco, Nicotine and PTSD
Wednesday, August 21 at 2 pm ET
Tobacco use, and cigarette smoking in particular, is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. There have been significant declines in cigarette use in the general and Veteran populations, however the prevalence of tobacco use remains relatively high, especially in particular health disparity subgroups, such as veterans with PTSD. While it is well known that tobacco cessation can reduce the risk for adverse effects on physical health, evidence also indicates that tobacco use exacerbates symptoms of PTSD and smoking cessation reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. Although VA providers who treat PTSD commonly encounter tobacco users, many feel they do not have adequate skills to provide behavioral counseling to assist with cessation efforts. As such, tobacco use is often not addressed and/or evidence based intervention elements are not provided, representing missed opportunities to address this critical health behavior. Tobacco cessation treatment training is not routinely provided, either in the context of professional training or within healthcare facilities. Teaching providers basic tenets of behavioral counseling for treating tobacco dependence will increase confidence in and likelihood of addressing patient tobacco use behaviors. To this end this presentation will provide education regarding the effective elements of brief behavioral counseling for treatment of tobacco dependence.
About the Presenter
MARK MYERS, PhD is a clinical psychologist at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System where he serves as the Lead Tobacco Cessation Clinician, having provided tobacco treatment to Veterans for over 25 years. Dr. Myers is also Deputy Director of the VA National Tobacco Cessation Clinical Resource Center, under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Tobacco & Health, engaged in program development, consultation and tobacco treatment training across the VA system. He is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego and has been involved in tobacco use and treatment research throughout his career.