People with SMI start smoking at a younger age
(Myles et al 2012), they inhale more deeply and
are more addicted to nicotine than smokers in
the general population (de Leon and Diaz 2005).
Yet the recent National Audit of Schizophrenia
by RCPsych (2012) found that only 57% of those
with SMI whose smoking status was assessed
were offered a smoking cessation intervention.
Furthermore, when smoking cessation services are
available, they can be difficult for people with SMIs
to access (Brunette et al 2012). There is a need to
develop effective and accessible smoking cessation
services that are tailored to this client group