Cigarette Smoking Quit Rates Among Persons With Serious Psychological Distress in the United States From 2008 to 2016: Are Mental Health Disparities in Cigarette Use Increasing?

Abstract

Cigarette smoking quit rates have not increased among persons with serious mental health problems over the past decade. This work extends prior findings showing that smoking prevalence is not declining as quickly among persons with serious mental health problems. Findings suggest that diverging trends in quit rates are one possible driver of the persistent disparity in smoking by mental health status. Innovation in both tobacco control and targeted interventions for smokers with mental health problems is urgently needed.