In the U.S., smoking is one of the reasons people with chronic mental illness die up to 25 years earlier than the general population. Research indicates that adults in the U.S. living with mental illness have a smoking rate higher than adults without mental illness. In fact, tobacco use by people under treatment for mental disorders or substance abuse accounts for about 200,000 of the nation’s 443,000 tobacco-related deaths each year, which is out of proportion. Moreover, research has found that smokers with mental illness are as interested in quitting as the general population, but some mental health providers and institutions may not make smoking cessation a priority.
Treating tobacco dependence is challenging for all smokers. But it is possible for smokers with mental illness to quit. With a treatment plan tailored to their willingness to quit and continued follow up care, it has been found that smokers with mental illness can achieve smoking cessation success. Quitting smoking can have important health benefits for all smokers. Many may also experience beneficial changes in some mental health conditions once they quit smoking. If you want to quit smoking, talk to your healthcare provider to discuss a smoking cessation plan.
Here’s more information to increase awareness about the issue.
Medically reviewed by Marianna Bruno, Medical Director on the US Medical Affairs team at Pfizer.