"Ho`opio Ke Puhi (Put out the smoke)," is a tobacco cessation program. The program is modified to include some native Hawaiian cultural values to suit the target population.
Half the tobacco sold in the United States is targeted and sold to the mentally ill. The State Department of Health declared the leading cause of death for the mentally ill to be tobacco related - not suicide. Tobacco use rates of people with schizophrenia and manic depressive disorder are 90% and 50% respectively. Because of the high consumption of tobacco among the mentally ill, they experience greater physical health consequences and earlier deaths compared to the general population.
According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey of Hawai`i 2005, Wai`anae has the highest current smoking rate in the state at 36%.
Hale Na`au Pono’s “Ho`opio Ke Puhi” program will work in partnership with the American Lung Association of Hawai`i. The program will train Case Mangers, Group Home staff, Substance Abuse counselors, Clubhouse and other Hale Na`au Pono program and administration staff to facilitate the tobacco cessation classes. Ho`opio Ke Puhi’s work with the Seriously Mentally Ill Population will provide important information for future programs serving the psychologically challenged