UK HealthCare

Behavioral health tobacco treatment awardees celebrated

of
Northkey representatives
Holly Logsdon

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2022) — The Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL), a mental and behavioral health research team housed in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, announced inaugural winners of behavioral health tobacco treatment awards at the "Recovery in Mental and Behavioral Health: Tackling the Hidden Epidemic of Tobacco Use" workshop on Nov. 9, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the most common causes of death among individuals living with behavioral health conditions — heart disease, cancer and lung disease — can all be caused by tobacco use. Further, these awards, one awarded to a behavioral health organization and one to a tobacco treatment specialist serving the behavioral health community, are significant because tobacco use hinders mental and behavioral health recovery.

The BH WELL Tobacco Treatment Integration Award honors an organization that has demonstrated continued success in the tobacco treatment field and has made significant contributions in addressing tobacco-related disparities for those living with mental or behavioral health challenges. NorthKey Community Care is the recipient of the 2022 BH WELL Tobacco Treatment Integration Award. NorthKey Community Care is a smoke-free organization that offers tobacco dependence treatment to individuals living with mental and behavioral health challenges. They collaborate to provide no-cost nicotine replacement therapy in the on-site pharmacy. NorthKey Community Care is an example of how behavioral health tobacco treatment integration can support reduced tobacco-related disparities for individuals living with mental and behavioral health challenges.

The BH WELL Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trailblazer Award is presented to a tobacco treatment specialist who is a champion for tobacco treatment prioritization within their organization and who is making significant contributions in treating tobacco dependence for those who are living with mental or behavioral health challenges. Holly Logsdon is the recipient of the 2022 BH WELL Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trailblazer Award. Logsdon is a tobacco treatment specialist for Owensboro Health in Owensboro, Kentucky.

When Logsdon began working with individuals living with mental and behavioral health challenges, she noticed that many continued to use products containing nicotine. She voluntarily enrolled in the tobacco treatment specialist training so that she could motivate individuals during their journey to stop tobacco use. Since that time, she has moved into a full-time position where she counsels individuals toward their desired goal of stopping tobacco use. Logsdon is an example of how one person can support many individuals during their journey to recovery.

Nominations for both awards were accepted from individuals working in or with behavioral health organizations in Kentucky. Awardees were selected by a blind, external review panel.

BH WELL exists to promote behavioral health and wellness among individuals living facing behavioral health challenges. The BH WELL research team members are experts in behavioral health integration and change. They provide the essentials of mental and behavioral health support: practice, research, education, scholarship and service.

For more information about BH WELL or the behavioral health tobacco treatment awards, contact Chizimuzo “Zim” Okoli, Ph.D., at ctokol1@uky.edu or 859-323-6606.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

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