Smoking and Mental Illness: Quick Facts

Sex Differences

Men with mental illness are more likely than women with mental illness to smoke cigarettes.

37.4% of males and 30.9% of females with mental illness smoke cigarettes

Age

Over 75% of people with mental illness who smoke cigarettes are under the age of 44.

Smoking status of people with mental illness by age

Geography

Rates of smoking among people with mental illness vary from state to state.


	Less than 30% people with a mental illness who smoke cigarettes
	30 - 34% people with a mental illness who smoke cigarettes
	35 - 39% people with a mental illness who smoke cigarettes
	40 - 44% people with a mental illness who smoke cigarettes
	45% or more people with a mental illness who smoke cigarettes

The state with the least people with mental illness who smoke cigarettes is Connecticut (21.9%).

The state with the most people with mental illness who smoke cigarettes is Missouri (52.1%).

Race/Ethnicity

American Indian/Alaska Native people with mental illness are most likely to smoke.

Asian people with mental illness are the least likely to smoke.

Rates of smoking are fairly consistent among people with mental illness of black/african american, white, hispanic/latino, and other ethnicities.

mental illness and smoking by ethnicity

Poverty Status

People with mental illness who smoke are more likely to be below poverty level.

Of people with mental illness who smoke, 29.5% are at or above poverty level, while 47.4% are below poverty level (not including college students in dorms)

Education

The higher the level of education a person with mental illness has, the less likely they are to smoke.***

mental illness and smoking status by education level

Also on mhanational.org

Infographic: Smoking and Mental Illness - A Double Dilemma
Infographic: Smoking and Mental Illness - The Case for Quitting
Infographic: Smoking And Mental Illness - Stop Smoking, Start Quitting

Source

SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012-2014.

*Non-hispanic

**Estimates are based on a definition of Poverty Level that incorporates information on family income, size, and composition and is calculated as a percentage of the U.S. Census Bureau's poverty thresholds. Respondents aged 18 to 22 who were living in a college dormitory were excluded.

***Education estimates are among persons aged 25 or older.

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