What obstacles do people with schizophrenia face when trying to quit smoking?

Several obstacles make quitting smoking particularly challenging for people with schizophrenia:

Addiction and cravings. While these factors play a significant role, there’s also strong evidence that smoking is used as a way to cope with some of the symptoms. These might include stress, feeling down, boredom, and even social isolation. Smoking can become a way to manage these challenging feelings and situations.

Limited resources: Both patients and healthcare providers often struggle with a shortage of necessary resources. Although some specific programs exist, many patients cannot afford the cost.

Neglect and outdated attitudes: Some responsible persons still hold onto outdated prejudices, overlooking the importance of assisting patients in quitting smoking.

Stigma: Patients with schizophrenia often face stigma, which can hinder their access to smoking cessation support.

Addressing these barriers is essential to helping people with schizophrenia in their efforts to quit smoking.

Gender and nicotine: how men and women respond differently

Extensive research has shown that there are gender-related differences in how people respond to smoking.

Women tend to metabolize nicotine and its byproduct cotinine faster than men, partly because of estrogen levels. This faster metabolism might explain why women often experience more negative effects from nicotine and have poorer success rates with treatments.

Studies indicate that women are more reactive to nicotine-related cues and stress, making them more prone to relapse, especially after stressful events. Additionally, women generally respond less favorably to nicotine replacement therapies compared to men.

One reason for the similar smoking rates among adult men and women could be tobacco marketing strategies aimed at women, emphasizing appetite suppression, weight loss, and independence.