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Oklahoma has high rate of smoking among people with mental illness

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report Tuesday that finds that Oklahoma has one of the highest rates in the nation of smoking among people with mental illness. Almost half of people with a mental illness in Oklahoma smoke cigarettes, according to the report.

By Jaclyn Cosgrove | Published: February 6, 2013 Comment on this article

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In Oklahoma, about 22 percent of adults report suffering from a mental illness, according to the CDC's analysis. Likewise, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States, or about 45.7 million Americans, have some type of mental illness, according to the report.

Among adults with mental illness, smoking prevalence is especially high among younger adults, American Indians and Alaska Natives, those living below the poverty line, and those with lower levels of education, according to the report.

Frieden said this is a serious health issue that needs more attention.

“People in the U.S. with mental illness are 70 percent more likely to smoke than people who don't have mental illness,” he said. “As a result, they're at much higher risk for early death and significant health problems.”

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