A non-smoking program in the psychiatric clinic: Eradicating tobacco from the therapeutic space

Introduction The work describes the well-succeeded experience of the Non-Smoking Program developed in a psychiatric clinic in Rio de Janeiro city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Objective To treat the tobacco dependence in patients with disorders for the use of substances and other psychiatric disorders. To transform the clinic therapeutic space in a free tobacco environment. Aims To promote the restoring of the patients’ health integrally, considering the use of tobacco is responsible for a large number of avoidable deaths, in addition to much harm to health. Methods In a clinic of hospitalization for diverse mental disorders treatment, especially disorders for the use of substances, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was simultaneously established a non-smoking treatment program. It was used the pharmacological therapy, associated with cognitive-behavioral therapy, occupational therapy and moderate physical activity. The average time of permanence in the non-smoking program was on average 90 days. Results There was significant acceptance to the proposed program. In the long-term monitoring, over 12 months, it was evidenced that most patients found themselves in tobacco abstinence. Conclusion The project achieved its objectives, promoting the tobacco abstinence in patients with comorbidities in hospital treatment. The study proved that it is possible to remove tobacco in patients dependent on this substance during a psychiatric hospitalization.