NRI Survey Shows Positive Trend for Tobacco-Free Psychiatric Hospitals Smoking Policies and Practices in State Psychiatric Facilities: Survey Results from 2011

Since 2006, the National Research Institute (NRI), the research arm of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) has been surveying state psychiatric facilities on their smoking policies and practices. In 2005, NRI performed the analysis of the initial environmental scan conducted by NASMHPD to develop a baseline of information. At that time, there was a 55% response rate and only 20% of facilities indicated that they prohibited smoking.

In 2006, NRI developed a refined survey with more variables, such as developing operational definitions of smoking and non-smoking; environmental and safety issues; staff training; and treatment options. Facilities self-identified whether they prohibit or allow smoking by the version of the survey they completed. The 2006 survey had an 82% response rate and 41% of facilities indicated that they prohibit smoking. In 2008, NRI refined the 2006 survey to provide a hierarchy of policy statements in order to refine and categorize facilities as either "prohibiting" or "allowing" smoking and adding questions to focus on treatment and continuity of care.

The 2008 survey had a 75% response rate and 49% of facilities were categorized as prohibiting smoking. The multi-year survey results indicate a clear movement toward facilities prohibiting smoking. In 2011, 79% of the facilities were categorized as prohibiting smoking (n=131), the vast majority of which (95%) are totally smoke-free campuses. For those facilities categorized as allowing smoking (n=34), 3% allow smoking inside the facility in designated smoking areas, 24% allow smoking outdoors, and 74% allow smoking outdoors only in designated areas. Three percent (3%) of the facilities that prohibit smoking and 41% of facilities that allow smoking also allow the use of sm

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Time Magazine Zeroes In on Horrific Abuse in Residential Care

An investigative reporter at a major news weekly recently published a blueprint for preventing the terrible abuse and neglect that routinely occur in institutions that are supposed to serve individuals with disabilities. Citing investigations by The New York Times and the Miami Herald, which uncovered ongoing violations – including those leading to deaths – in such institutions, Time magazine’s Maia Szalavitz came up with a template for putting an end to such abuse. Her suggestions include intensive oversight and “redundant checks on power,” frequent and unannounced inspections, a reduction in stigma, and adequate funding. “If we want the elderly, disabled and others living in institutions to be safe and well cared for, we need to value them both emotionally and financially,” Szalavitz writes. “That’s not what’s going on now.”

Source: http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/07/why-so-much-abuse-is-allowed-to-continue-in-residential-care/ Reposted at darkestcloset.bloggerspot.com