Addictions are common heritable disorders with multiple psychiatric and medical comorbidities. Persons with substance abuse are approximately twice as likely to suffer psychiatric morbidities as those without substance abuse, and have an increased risk of using inpatient and emergency facilities. In addition, public mental health clients had a decreased life span of 13 to 30 years; most deaths are caused by heart disease and cancer. Cigarette smoking is therefore the largest modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the general population and in the psychiatric population.
