Smoking is a large risk factor to people who have a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis. The primary reason is that we smoke more than the rest of the population. This percentage has gone up as more people in the general population have been able to quit. About 20% of the general population smoke, but about 80% of people with a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis smoke.

Currently at least 44% of the cigarettes consumed in the United States are consumed by people who have a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis. 

Best practice guidelines recommend that people with a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis be offered smoking cessation opportunities and treatment, but many of these recommendations may not be implemented in mental health treatment settings. When they are not offered, people may not receive the opportunity to receive smoking cessation treatment. Another issue may be that the most effective ways of stopping smoking are not offered. There are ways and means to assist people in quitting. Some are better than others.

People with mental illness are more likely to have smoking related diseases and are dying 25 years sooner than people without mental illness.

Regretfully, smoking is often seen as a control issue. People who feel they have little control over their lives may not want to give up smoking. They may not want to give up what they feel is a small comfort or treat. Also in the past smoking was used as a reward for good behavior when on hospital units, and used as punishment when ward rules weren't followed. When habits are tied up in rewards and punishments, habits can be even harder to break.

Some general thoughts and facts:

There is no evidence that low tar or low nicotine cigarettes have reduced health risks.

Smoking is known to damage virtually every organ in the body.

Smoking plays a huge role in the 25 year early death rate that people with a mental illness have.

The impact of tobacco morbidity and mortality affects health care costs and society in many ways.

Smoking is a tough habit to break, but is something that you need to do for you. Each year about 400,000 Americans die an early death due to primary and secondary effects of smoking, which is about 1 in 6 deaths. It is the largest preventable cause of early death and disability in America.

Cigarette smoking is linked with increased blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and increased unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Many people quit cold turkey. Others need help with medication, group support and/or counseling. Some try hypnosis or acupuncture.

Any decision to quit has to be yours (or belong to the person who is quitting). It is not something that someone else can do for you.

There are many benefits to quitting smoking. 

When Smokers Quit: