Clara Martin Center Goes Tobacco Free

Clara Martin Center will institute an enhanced tobacco free policy on all of its campuses beginning July 1, 2015. This policy further supports the agency’s philosophy that physical health is an important component of overall wellness, and complies with new State regulations for designated agencies.

To support clients through this transition, Clara Martin Center offers Smoking Cessation groups led by two certified tobacco cessation specialists. These support groups help clients identify triggers, provide skill development, teach coping skills, address withdrawal as well as provide nicotine replacement therapy.

A study by The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that 44.3 percent of all cigarettes in America are consumed by individuals who live with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. People living with mental illness are about twice as likely to smoke as other persons, however, this study showed that people who live with mental illness also had substantial quit-rates, which were almost as high as those without mental illness.