During 2009–2011, adults with AMI had a high prevalence of cigarette smoking. Sociodemographic variations in the prevalence of current smoking among persons with AMI resembled patterns in the overall population (7,8). Whereas estimates for smoking were reported to be high among persons with AMI, it is likely that these rates would be even higher if the AMI definition included substance use disorders since persons with substance use disorders but no other mental disorder were excluded (9). Increasing awareness of the high smoking prevalence in this population is needed (9). In addition to investing in comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs at CDC-recommended levels (10), better coordination between tobacco control and mental health programs at the national, state, and community levels is needed. In clinical settings, screening for tobacco use and offering effective cessation treatments, such as medications and counseling, to persons with mental illness†† would likely further reduce tobacco-use prevalence and result in a substantial reduction in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality (10).
