Prevalence of cigarette smoking is disproportionally high among US adults with mental health conditions.  This study analyzed data from the 2019 and 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Current cigarette smoking remains higher among adults with AMI, serious psychological distress, and major depressive disorder than among those without AMI, especially among adults who are Hispanic, non-Hispanic AI/AN, or LGB and populations experiencing poverty, lack of health insurance, or were arrested and booked in the past year.  This study adds further evidence that adults with mental health conditions may be disproportionately affected by multiple external factors that lead to ongoing high prevalence of current smoking.  The findings from this article contribute to our knowledge of cigarette smoking disparities, especially among adults with mental health conditions and cigarette smoking by US state.

Addressing cigarette smoking among adults with mental health conditions may require interventions that can reduce barriers particular to this population, in addition to the equitable implementation of well-established comprehensive commercial tobacco prevention and control strategies.  Population-specific approaches could include education on evidence-based practices for treating people who smoke and have a mental health condition, increasing the number of smoke-free mental health treatment facilities, and improving access to cessation services, particularly within the criminal justice system.

The article is available here:
https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2022/22_0184.htm#print