Severe mental illness and nicotine dependence frequently co-occur. Individuals suffering from schizophrenia have much higher rates of smoking than the general population (Hartz et al., 2014) and smokers are more likely to suffer from schizophrenia (Gage et al., 2014; Gurillo et al., 2015; Myles et al., 2012; Sorensen et al., 2011; Zammit et al., 2003). Furthermore, much of the morbidity and premature mortality in individuals with schizophrenia can be attributed to smoking-related diseases (Brady et al., 1993; Colton and Manderscheid, 2006; Crump et al., 2013; Drake and Wallach, 1989; Olfson et al., 2015; Parks et al., 2006).
