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Why change smoking habits?
 People who cut down or quit will have more money to spend on enjoyable
things like going to the movies as well as essentials like paying the
rent or buying food.
Diseases caused by smoking are the second largest killer of people who have a mental illness.
People who cut down or quit smoking may have their dose of anti-psychotic medication reduced.
People who change their smoking habits get a real boost in their confidence and feel a great sense of achievement.
Why do people with schizophrenia smoke more?
People with mental illness, like many others, often smoke because they
have learned to use it as a way of dealing with feelings such as
boredom or stress. Also, some chemicals in cigarettes – particularly
the highly addictive substance nicotine – may affect the positive and
negative symptoms of schizophrenia. As a consequence, smokers generally
need higher doses of antipsychotic medication, which can lead to
increased side-effects. Some studies show that people with a history of
depression need extra support when they try to quit smoking, in
particular from a doctor. Some antidepressant medications can make
quitting easier for someone who has experienced depression.
Did you know?
Smoking is more common among people with mental illness than the
general community. While smoking rates in the general
population have fallen to under 20% around
40% of people with mental illness continue to smoke, and around 70% of those with schizophrenia.
What can be done to help?
Most
people make a number of attempts before they finally quit smoking. Just
as smokers learned to smoke they must also learn to become smokefree
and this takes time. Smokers need to make a decision to change their
smoking habits. Try writing down the reasons for wanting to change and
keep them with the cigarettes. Plan how to quit. find the right support
program/person. Use nicotine patches or gum. Ready to quit? Ideas and
strategies for how to be a non-smoker are important now. Try talking to
other people who have quit smoking, do a Smokefree program, or talk to
a doctor or pharmacist.
An enjoyable part of quitting or cutting down is planning how to spend the money previously spent on cigarettes.
Who can help?
It is important to involve a doctor when trying to take control of
smoking. Doctors can monitor medication levels and side-effects, advise
on anti-depressant medication and advise on use of nicotine patches,
chewing gum or a nicotine inhaler. Pharmacists are also a good source
of information and support.
How do I find out more?
It
is important to ask your doctor about any concerns you have. SANE
Australia also produces a range of easy-to-read publications and
multimedia resources on mental illness. For more information about this
topic see:
- The SANE SmokeFree Zone
Provides practical step-by-step tips for consumers and carers on how to quit smoking.
- The SANE SmokeFree Kit
This revised edition helps people with a mental illness give up
smoking. The kit is designed to be used by workers in the drug and
alcohol, smoking cessation or mental health fields.
- SANE Guide to Healthy Living
Explains
the benefits of being physically healthy, gives tips on how to started
becoming healthier and overcome obstacles as well as giving suggestions
on finding support to help stay healthy.
- The SANE Guide to Drugs
Explains
the relationship between drugs and mental illness and looks at
identifying when drug use becomes a problem as well as providing
information on how to support someone change their drug use.
To order visit the SANE Bookshop at
www.sane.org or call 1800 18 SANE (7263)
SANE Australia . . . Smoking and mental illness
©SANE Factsheet 16
This Factsheet may be freely downloaded, copied and distributed on
condition no change is made to the contents. SANE Australia is not
responsible for any actions taken as a result of information or
opinions contained in the Factsheet. SANE Australia is a business name
of Schizophrenia Australia Foundation.
[Version English, 2005]
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