As our healthcare systems begin to shift to address the unprecedented circumstances caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19), public health, behavioral health and health care professionals have been particularly on alert by the novel coronavirus that poses higher risk to the communities and individuals we serve.
At NBHN we are trying to be responsive to your developing needs around COVID-19 and your clients, particularly around reducing the risk to those with behavioral health conditions that smoke. Please let us know any way we can support your ongoing efforts by emailing samarat@thenationalcouncil.org
Background. According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), however the coronavirus strain being transmitted at present was discovered in 2019 and has not previously been identified. 1 Although the virus may start with a fever with or without associated respiratory symptoms, various degrees of respiratory abnormalities develop as the disease progresses, with severe cases requiring oxygenation as part of the treatment. 2 As a result, individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are more vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus. In addition, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests current use of tobacco products, such as cigarettes or vapes, are risk factors contributing to disease progression and higher mortality. 3,4,5 Individuals with behavioral health conditions who smoke also may fall into a greater category of risk (beyond co-occurring chronic condition risks) as fear and anxiety, as well as increased social isolation may cause increased use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs as a response to stressful circumstances. With new information and misinformation unfolding daily, behavioral health practitioners, tobacco control experts and individuals who smoke need to be vigilant in keeping up with the best in evidence-based practice, policy, and research.
Below, you’ll find a digest of available resources and information related to coronavirus (COVID-19) and its implications for individuals who use tobacco.
News Articles & Blog Posts
- COVID-19 and Drug Use: What’s the Connection?
- Protect Your Lungs (COVID-19)
- Protect yourself from COVID-19: Stop smoking and vaping now
- How smoking, vaping and drug use might increase risks from Covid-19
- Smoking or Vaping May Increase the Risk of a Severe Coronavirus Infection
- The coronavirus is deadly enough. But some experts suspect bad air makes it worse.
- The Coronavirus Is A Good Reason to Quit Vaping
- Reduce your risk of serious lung disease caused by corona virus by quitting smoking and vaping
- Is There Actually a Link Between Vaping and Coronavirus?
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Potential Implications for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
- Lawmakers urge the FDA to temporarily clear e-cigarettes from market amid Covid pandemic. Here’s why
General Resources & Information
- World Health Organization Health Topics: Coronavirus
- Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus (COVID-10) Landing Page
- National Council for Behavioral Health Resources and Tools for Addressing Coronavirus
- Resources for the public
- Resources for behavioral health organizations
- Behavioral health care resources
- SAMHSA Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Potential Implications for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
- American Lung Association: Protecting Yourself During the Spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
- National Association of Community Health Centers: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources for Community Health Centers
- The Association for Addiction Professionals: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources
- National Association of Social Workers: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- American Psychological Association Pandemic Resources
- Behavioral Health & Wellness Program: COVID-19 and Tobacco Resources
Webinars
- Addressing the Social Determinants of Health: COVID-19 Impacts and Response
- Chuck Ingoglia’s Town Hall Series: March
- Prepare Not Panic: COVID-19 CDC Update and the Health Center Response
- Preparing Behavioral Health Organizations for Coronavirus
- COVID-19 and Chronic Lung Disease: What you Need to Know
- The Clinical Edge: COVID-19, Tobacco Use & Health Disparity Populations
- American Lung Association Series: COVID-19 and Chronic Lung Disease Webinars
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services in Days of a Pandemic: You Need a Bigger Boat
- Changing the Conversation about Mental Health – How Do We Come Back to the New Normal?
- Telepsychiatry in the Era of COVID-19
- American Public Health Association: COVID-19 Conversations
Infographics & Campaigns
COVID-19 Behavioral Health Resources by State
Research
- Characteristics of and Important Lessons From the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in China: Summary of a Report of 72 314 Cases From the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Analysis of factors associated with disease outcomes in hospitalized patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease
- Sex difference and smoking predisposition in patients with COVID-19
- Susceptibility Analysis of COVID-19 in Smokers Based on ACE2
- Risk of COVID-19 for cancer patients
- COVID-19—New Insights on a Rapidly Changing Epidemic
- Special Collection: Effective options for quitting smoking during COVID-19
- COVID-19 and smoking: A systematic review of the evidence
- Smoking Is Associated With COVID-19 Progression: A Meta-analysis
- Association Between Youth Smoking, Electronic Cigarette Use, and Coronavirus Disease 2019
Related Policies & Protocols
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Coronavirus
- Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet
- Notification of Enforcement Discretion for telehealth remote communications during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency
- Disaster Planning Handbook for Behavioral Health Treatment Programs
- Coronavirus Sample Drive Thru Procedures
- State Action Related to COVID-19 Coverage of Critical Services by Private Insurers
Sources
- World Health Organization Health Topics: Coronavirus
- Pulmonary Pathology of Early-Phase 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pneumonia in Two Patients With Lung Cancer (Tian S. et al., 2020, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Volume 0, Issue 0)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse COVID-19: Potential Implications for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
- Characteristics of and Important Lessons From the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in China: Summary of a Report of 72314 Cases From the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Zunyou W., McGoogan J., 2020, JAMA,.doi:10.1001/jama.2020.2648)
- Analysis of factors associated with disease outcomes in patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease. (Liu W. et al., 2020, Chinese Medical Journal, Volume Publish Ahead of Print – Issue -doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000000775)