Serious mental illness and smoking cessation

Abstract

Persons with serious mental illness (SMI) are faced with substantial challenges to their health. This population is two to three times more likely to smoke cigarettes than persons who do not suffer from mental illness. In particular, young adults are at high risk for vulnerability to both SMI and cigarette smoking. Although there are proven methods for smoking cessation, both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions show limited usefulness for SMI who smoke. Alternative health care options as well as support groups and physical exercise are discussed as methods that may be useful in smoking cessation. Finally, integration of smoking cessation programming into existing mental health treatment services may offer the greatest opportunity for client success.