Study: Smoking, Addiction & Mental Illness

A new study has firmed up the link between smoking, mental illness and substance abuse.

FOX News Radio’s Rich Johnson has details:

The study is further confirmation that mental illness and addictions and tobacco go hand-in-hand-in-hand.

(Delaney) “People with mental illness or substance abuse disorders tend to use cigarettes disproportionately to the rest of the population.”

That’s Peter Delaney of the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration on the new report that says people with mental and addiction issues account for 40% of all the cigarettes smoked in the U.S.  But he says when you treat people for every addiction at once…

(Delaney) “They do better, long-term, in their recovery because you’re dealing with the whole person.”

Delaney says it’s time to put aside the notion that smoking’s an okay crutch for people dealing with hard drugs or mental illness.

Rich Johnson, FOX News Radio.