By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Defending the Mentally Ill Who Smoke
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > Defending the Mentally Ill Who Smoke
NewsPolicy & Law

Defending the Mentally Ill Who Smoke

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE

I hate cigarette smoke and have also been sympathetic to health plans that want to exclude smokers or charge them much higher premiums. Yet a new government report reminded me of the connection between mental illness and smoking and was a reminder not to rush to judgment.

I hate cigarette smoke and have also been sympathetic to health plans that want to exclude smokers or charge them much higher premiums. Yet a new government report reminded me of the connection between mental illness and smoking and was a reminder not to rush to judgment.

The CDC/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report indicates that about 30 percent of all cigarettes are smoked by the mentally ill. Compared with the overall population more mentally ill people smoke and those who do smoke more per person. The mentally ill are less likely than others to quit successfully.

I wrote about this very topic in 2007, when the estimate was the the mentally ill were smoking almost half of all cigarettes. The two points I discussed then are worth raising again.

More Read

Marching
A March of Happiness:Million Puppet March
FDA Approves Middle of the Night Sleeping Pill–Treatments Are Getting Specific–Is This Personalized Medicine?
Educating Medical Professionals and Healing with Virtual Reality
Within Debt Ceiling Debate, House Dems ‘Just Say No’ to Medicare Cuts
5 Notable Innovations in The Pharmaceutical Industry

First, there must be a reason why almost every schizophrenic smokes. Probably because smoking helps them feel less crazy. It’s still probably worth encouraging some mental health patients to quit but it’s not probably not so clear cut.

Second, if the mentally ill are smoking almost half the cigarettes they’re probably also paying about half the cigarette taxes. It’s been popular in recent years to jack up the cigarette tax to pay for social programs. Is it really fair to have the mentally ill pick up a disproportionate share of the tab?

 

TAGGED:mental illnesssmoking
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

contamination
Batch Failures And The Hidden Costs Of Contamination
Health Infographics
October 21, 2025
Medication Management For Seniors
Simplifying Medication Management For Seniors
Infographics Senior Care
October 21, 2025
Guide To Pursuing a Career in Nursing as a Foreigner in the USA
Collaboration Is the Prescription for Better Patient Care
Health
October 20, 2025
Epidemiological Health Benefits
Personal and Epidemiological Health Benefits of Blood Pressure Management
Health
October 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Experts Blast Ryan’s Attack on IPAB

May 25, 2011

When and How Much TasP is Value for Money?

January 12, 2013
Policy & LawTechnology

Healthcare Data Survey Shows Providers Are Easy Prey For Hackers

December 19, 2019

The Power of Observational Studies

March 3, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?