Mid Coast Hospital’s Addiction Resource Center Recognized for Tobacco-Free Achievements

The annual Gold Star Standards of Excellence Behavioral Health Awardees have been announced for 2021, and the Mid Coast Hospital Addiction Resource Center is among 9 Maine Behavioral Health Organizations Celebrated for Leadership through Annual Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program.

The program of the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence’s Breathe Easy Initiative recognized nine behavioral health organizations efforts to address tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Celebrated organizations received a plaque for their achievements in advancing their campus smoke- and tobacco-free policies as well as promoting tobacco-free lifestyles.

The Addiction Resource Center was recognized for meeting a Gold Level through the 2021 Gold Star Standards of Excellence program for efforts to address tobacco use and exposure. This was the fifth year the Addiction Resource Center has participated in the initiative, showing a longstanding commitment to addressing tobacco use and exposure.

"As overall smoking rates have declined, the prevalence of smoking among people with behavioral health conditions has remained high,” says Barbara Ginley of the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence. She continued, "We applaud the efforts of the Gold Star Standards of Excellence Awardees to address tobacco use and behavioral health organization’s commitment to addressing tobacco use and exposure for their clients.”

All Maine behavioral health organizations were encouraged to apply for recognition. This year marks the fifth year of the Behavioral Health Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program. Award levels are based on best practices including implementing a smoke and tobacco-free campus policy, providing referrals to tobacco treatment, promoting smoke-free lodging options to visitors and divesting from tobacco industry stock.

The Breathe Easy Initiative at the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence is dedicated to providing Maine’s hospitals with the information and resources needed to make all organizations smoke and tobacco-free.

The program is funded by Maine Prevention Services. Maine Prevention Services is an initiative through the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention working across the state to impact tobacco, substance use, and obesity.

For more information about the Gold Star Standards of Excellence, please visit BreatheEasyMaine.org/GSSE.