Study Shows Decrease in Smoking Among Adults with Depression and Substance Use Disorders

Nov.25.2022
Study Shows Decrease in Smoking Among Adults with Depression and Substance Use Disorders
Study shows smoking rates among US adults with depression or substance use disorder have decreased, but more work needs to be done to ensure their tobacco use continues to decline.

A study entitled "Smoking trends among US adults with severe depression or substance use disorders from 2006 to 2019" is reassuring for public health experts who have long been concerned about the high smoking rates among people with mental health disorders.


Furthermore, these individuals are more likely to find it difficult to quit smoking. Therefore, they benefit greatly from additional support in quitting smoking and obtaining safer alternatives, which at least reduces their chances of developing smoking-related diseases.


A study by researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), both under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, suggests that this population may benefit from tobacco use prevention and cessation efforts, which have resulted in significant reductions in smoking rates among the general population.


However, researchers emphasized that disparities still exist and need to be addressed. "These declines represent a public health success story," said Wilson Compton, MD, NIDA deputy director and senior author of the study. "But there is much work to be done to ensure that tobacco use continues to decline, particularly among those with substance use disorders, depression or other mental illnesses. It is critical that healthcare providers promptly address all health issues that patients experience, not just their depression or substance use disorder. This requires integrating smoking cessation therapy into existing behavioral health therapies. The result will be longer, healthier lives for everyone.


Individuals with mental health disorders are being excluded from research. A recent study titled "The inequity of clinical trials testing smoking cessation medication: excluding smokers with mental health disorders" sought to examine the practice and reasoning behind excluding smokers with mental health disorders from such trials.


A research team analyzed the Cochrane systematic review database up to September 2020 to obtain evaluations on the use of drug therapy for smoking cessation. "We included 279 randomized controlled trials from 13 Cochrane reviews. Across all studies, 51 (18.3%) explicitly excluded participants with any mental health disorder (MHD), 152 (54.5%) conditionally excluded based on certain MHD criteria, and 76 (27.2%) did not provide sufficient information to determine inclusion or exclusion. The study found that, compared to studies on nicotine replacement therapy, research on antidepressant drugs for smoking cessation was 3.33 times more likely to conditionally exclude MHD smokers (95% CI 1.38 to 8.01, p=0.007)," the researchers reported.


In fact, their conclusion was that there wasn't enough representation of smokers with MHD (Mental Health Disorders) in clinical trials examining the safety and effectiveness of smoking cessation drugs, but there wasn't enough data collected to explain why. The study emphasized the importance of promoting the participation of this minority group in trials.


Announcement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended only for industry exchange and learning purposes.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS is not able to confirm the authenticity and accuracy of the article's content. The compilation of this article is solely for the purpose of industry-related communication and research.


Due to limitations in our translation ability, this article may not express the same meaning as the original. Therefore, please refer to the original article for accurate information.


2FIRSTS fully aligns with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign-related discussions and positions.


The copyright for the compiled information belongs to the original media and authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

2Firsts Interview | InterTabac 2026 Adapts to a More Complex Tobacco and Nicotine Market
2Firsts Interview | InterTabac 2026 Adapts to a More Complex Tobacco and Nicotine Market
As InterTabac 2026 approaches, Sabine Loos, Managing Director of Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe, tells 2Firsts that global tobacco trade fairs are evolving beyond product display. With new nicotine categories, shifting regulation and more complex supply chains reshaping the industry, InterTabac is positioning itself as a platform for market insight, regulatory discussion and global business connection.
Special Report
Jul.02
U.S. House Defense Bill Includes Pilot Review of Vapes, Nicotine Pouches and Heated Tobacco for Military Smokers
U.S. House Defense Bill Includes Pilot Review of Vapes, Nicotine Pouches and Heated Tobacco for Military Smokers
On July 23, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes Section 707 provisions requiring the Department of Defense to evaluate tobacco use and nicotine alternatives among military personnel. The pilot program would examine products including vapes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products, primarily among active-duty service members who continue using combustible tobacco. The provision is a policy evaluation effort, not an authorization for military vaping promotion or a ban on vape products.
Jul.28
Bringing Tax and Insurance Into Nicotine Regulation: Insights From a Tobacco Harm-Reduction Report
Bringing Tax and Insurance Into Nicotine Regulation: Insights From a Tobacco Harm-Reduction Report
A smoke-free nicotine policy report argues that tobacco harm reduction should move beyond product bans and health warnings into tax policy, insurance pricing and risk-based regulation. While some projections remain open to debate, the report highlights a wider challenge: nicotine products, technologies and consumer behavior have changed sharply over the past decade, and regulatory systems may need new tools to better align tobacco control with harm-reduction goals.
Jun.08
China Tobacco International HK Warns First-Half Revenue May Fall 25%-30%, Tobacco Leaf and Duty-Free Exposure Highlight Reliance on Traditional Tobacco
China Tobacco International HK Warns First-Half Revenue May Fall 25%-30%, Tobacco Leaf and Duty-Free Exposure Highlight Reliance on Traditional Tobacco
CTIHK expects first-half 2026 revenue to fall 25%-30%, mainly due to lower tobacco leaf imports and delayed cigarette shipments to China’s domestic duty-free market. Its 2025 revenue mix—nearly 90% from tobacco leaf-related businesses and less than 1% from new tobacco products—shows continued exposure to traditional supply chains and trade variables.
Jun.18
Supreme Vape Revenue Rises 15% Despite UK Disposable Vape Ban
Supreme Vape Revenue Rises 15% Despite UK Disposable Vape Ban
UK consumer goods group Supreme said its vaping revenue rose 15% to £148.1 million in the year to March 31, 2026, despite the UK disposable vape ban taking effect during the period, while the company identified the Vaping Products Duty due in October as the next major industry milestone.
Regulations
Jul.03 by 2Firsts Perspectives
From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design
From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design
According to China’s patent office records, a patent owned by China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Corporation (CTHB) for “cigarette paper and a cigarette for microwave heating” was granted on May 19, 2026. The patent describes cigarette paper with an outer wrapping layer, a heating layer, and an isolation heat-conducting layer, allowing it to absorb microwave energy, convert it to heat, and transfer that heat to the aerosol-generating substrate.
Jun.10