Percentage of Denver County Adults Who Smoke
No Denver data available at this time
15.4% White, non-Hispanic
(Tobacco Attitudes and Behaviors Survey - TABS, 2005)

In the Colorado public mental health system, 41 % of persons with serious or serious and persistent mental illnesses (SMI/SPMI) use tobacco. 67 This percentage represents about 45,000-50,000 adults (18 and over) with limited financial resources (below 300% of the federal poverty level). The frequency of tobacco use varies with diagnosis (major depression 45-50%, bipolar mood disorder 50-70%, schizophrenia 70-90%), illness severity, and other variables. 68 There are currently very few tobacco control programs available to or targeting this population.

The main barriers to communication about tobacco cessation are MH consumer and provider beliefs and attitudes.

For MH providers and consumers alike, there exists a widespread belief that addressing tobacco use with MH consumers is futile. This belief is based on some psychiatric issues of initiating tobacco cessation in this population, i.e., some smokers with psychiatric conditions may experience exacerbated conditions when they initially stop smoking, and smoking cessation may impact the effectiveness of some psychiatric medications. Many MH providers and consumers believe that consumers need to use tobacco in order to control their symptoms, and that attempts to quit carry an unacceptably high risk of psychiatric relapse.
MH providers and systems have multiple competing clinical and administrative demands and may view tobacco use as beyond their scope of practice or responsibility. MH providers' attitudes toward tobacco use may be shaped by their own tobacco use or tobacco use history.

Unfortunately, mental health providers and staff often condone tobacco use. Smoking is a social pastime; MH consumers and staff smoke during work breaks or socially at MH centers, clubhouses, etc. Also, smoking is often used as a reinforcer by staff for compliant behavior in inpatient settings. MH consumers may use tobacco (nicotine) to reduce side effects from their medications and increase attention and concentration. Additionally, tobacco may have anti-anxiety and mild anti-depressive effects. (Tobacco Disparities Strategic Plan Draft, November 2006)

DATH Constituents
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Department of Psychiatry

Tobacco Industry Targeting of Persons with Mental Illness

Tobacco companies cultivated relationships with homeless and mental health service organizations. Some psychiatric hospitals were targeted by specific brands of major cigarette companies for sales promotions and giveaways. Charitable contributions to homeless services were made using a portion of ticket revenues from Benson and Hedges arts and music festivals. The tobacco industry has made financial contributions to organizations who provide services to homeless veterans and have used those relationships to advance its political agenda. As a result, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans has been active in advocating against new smoking restrictions. Colorado's Veterans for the Homeless received rent and food contributions from Kraft Foods, Inc. (a subsidiary of Phillip Morris' parent company "Altria.")
(Tobacco Disparities Strategic Plan Draft, November 2006)