Smokers With Behavioral Health Comorbidity Should Be Designated a Tobacco Use Disparity Group

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2013.301232
• Publication Date: 2013-07-18T19:55:56Z
• Authors: Jill M. Williams; Marc L. Steinberg; Kim Gesell Griffiths; Nina Cooperman
• Keywords: Smoking prevalence; Population Health

Smokers with co-occurring mental illness or substance use disorders are not designated a disparity group priority population by most national public health and tobacco control groups. These smokers fulfill the criteria commonly used to identify groups that merit special attention: targeted marketing industry, high smoking prevalence rates, heavy economic burdens from tobacco, limited access treatment, longer durations of less cessation. A effort increase surveillance, research, treatment is needed. Designating behavioral comorbidity will bring much-needed attention resources. The in rates among persons issues relative general worsen over time if their needs remain unaddressed.