Encourage psychiatrists to become more involved in treatment, prevention, research and advocacy activities concerning nicotine dependence and tobacco use. Tobacco use is the largest and most preventable cause of mortality in the United States. According to the U.S. Office on Smoking and Health, smoking causes more than 430,000 premature deaths annually among U.S. smokers alone, with minority and low income populations at special risk. In addition, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, over 50,000 deaths per year among U.S. nonsmokers are associated with environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Nicotine dependence and withdrawal can influence the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Smoking decreases blood levels of several medications.
Furthermore, nicotine withdrawal may worsen the symptoms of other psychiatric disorders in some patients. Treatment of nicotine dependence can reduce the health consequences of smoking. Psychiatric knowledge and skills in psychotherapy and pharmacological therapy are relevant to treatment of nicotine dependence. Psychiatrists should take an active role in research into the causes, prevention and treatment of nicotine dependence. Although smoking is recognized as the most preventable cause of early death and disability, only a small proportion of the overall federal medical research budget supports research on behavioral and psychiatric aspects of nicotine dependence.