Health Care Delivery in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Facilities 

What is the policy issue being studied? 

Tobacco assessment and treatment are increasingly integrated into health care systems as measures of quality. Effective January 2022, AB 541 requires that SUD treatment facilities assess clients for tobacco use and offer cessation treatment. DHCS accreditation is tied to compliance with these requirements. However, the 2021 National Substance Use and Mental Health Survey showed that California SUD facilities report much less tobacco assessment and counseling than SUD facilities nationwide (assessment: CA 71% vs. US 80%; counseling: CA 58% vs. US 65%). 

Who are the study partners? 

Sacramento County Substance Use Prevention and Treatment and Sacramento County Tobacco Education Program 

What data are being generated? 

The study examines barriers and facilitators for policy implementation in local SUD facilities.