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This article was originally published in the Ohio County Monitor on Jan. 14, 2025. View here.
OWENSBORO, Ky. — Green River District Health Department and RiverValley Behavioral Health are celebrating the success of their tobacco-free initiatives, which have made a significant impact on improving the health and well-being of people in the community.
These efforts are supported by the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning, a program housed within the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. BH WELL recently celebrated its 2024 Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment awardees in a virtual conference held Dec. 4.
Those awarded include GRDHD, which received the Tobacco Treatment Integration Award for assisting RVBH in successfully going tobacco-free campus-wide and integrating tobacco treatment services within their organization.
“When the University of Kentucky Behavioral Health Wellness staff shared studies showing that providing cessation support for nicotine dependence simultaneously with treatment for substance use disorders; long-term outcomes for success actually increased,” said Gary Hall, Health Educator with GRDHD. “We realized this would have multiple benefits for the clients RVBH serves. People seeking substance use treatment not only can transition into long-term recovery, but also improve their physical health by no longer smoking.”
Since the implementation of the policy, RiverValley has seen positive impacts in employees’ personal journeys towards smoking cessation, and the physical grounds of RiverValley have improved with fewer cigarette butts and tobacco products discarded.
The organization has also provided multiple avenues for those who wish to quit tobacco, including a peer-support group, nicotine replacement products, tobacco treatment specialists, and access to a brand-new fitness center for employees.
“In an effort to continue to be an organization that values not just mental health wellness but also physical health wellness, we knew that implementing a tobacco-free policy was necessary. This initiative is about more than just enforcing a policy — it’s about empowering our team members to lead healthier lives and building a supportive community that prioritizes well-being,” said Brooke Arnold, Director of the RVBH Regional Prevention Center.
GRDHD has also begun working with another behavioral health organization toward tobacco-free policy as part of their Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program behavioral health grant, in addition to supporting and educating local behavioral health organizations regarding evidence-based practices related to tobacco-free policy and tobacco treatment service integration.
This work is vital as individuals with mental and behavioral health conditions are at a much higher risk of tobacco use, leading to increased rates of heart disease, cancer, and lung disease.
Mary McLevain, a medical records supervisor at RVBH, was also awarded the 2024 Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Impact Award for her impact, exceptional commitment, innovation, and success in reducing tobacco burden for herself and others.
“I am incredibly honored. Being smoke-free has been one of the best and easiest decisions I’ve ever made. After smoking for 35 years, I knew after attending my first Smoke-Free meeting with the BH WELL team, that it would mark the turning point in my life,” said McLevain. “My smoke-free journey has been incredibly rewarding. I feel healthier, more active, and able to enjoy life in ways I never imagined before. As I approach my second smoke-free anniversary, I remain motivated by my family, especially my grandchildren.”
McLevain currently leads the Kicking Butts Smoking Cessation Support Group, which takes place monthly at the RiverValley Center, and she has been part of a state-wide campaign to inspire others to quit tobacco by sharing her testimony.
Published on January 16, 2025