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Bad Habit Goes Up in Smoke 

Individuals with SMI or more than twice as likely to smoke than the general population.

* Many individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are highly motivated to quit and have made quit attempts in the past.

* What those with SMI fear the most is that when they try to stop smoking, symptoms of their mental illness will reoccur. (Through our work, we have found that withdrawal symptoms from cigarette smoking mimic some of the symptoms of mental illness.)

* Providing opportunities for a continuum of support, such as psycho education, peer support, and assistance with appropriate nicotine replacement therapy, significantly increases chances of successfully quitting.

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