Smoking by the numbers

CrossCurrents

The CACTUS project (Cultivating Awareness of the Context of Tobacco Use), surveyed 789 smoking and non­smoking clients of community mental health teams and 282 mental health providers in the Vancouver area. Here are some quick facts from the project.

Community mental health team clients:

• 47 – average age of clients surveyed
  
  
• 20% were ex­smokers
  
  
• 73% of ex-smokers had gone “cold turkey”
  
  
• $41 spent per week on cigarettes
  
  
• 43% smoked first cigarette within 5 minutes of waking
  
  
• 48% current smokers – 3x average rate in B.C.
  
  
• 86% wanted to quit smoking
  
  
• 87% had tried to quit smoking

Mental health care providers:

• 22% are current smokers 26% said personal smoking is a barrier to addressing tobacco
  
  
• 27% former smokers felt tempted to smoke while at work
  
  
• 30% had not given it much thought
  
  
• 39% lacked adequate smoking cessation knowledge
  
  
• 40% lacked incentives and time to deal with it
  
  
• 44% said clients smoke when they visit them at home
  
  
• 69% reported smoking is one thing clients can enjoy
  
  
• 70% believed nicotine helped clients manage symptoms
  
  
• 74% reported co­workers smoke with clients
  
  
• 81% bothered by second hand smoke
  
  
  
• 82% believed clients have more pressing issues
  
  
• 86% said clients smoke in their presence in public spaces
  
  
• 88% thought clients can decide for themselves about quitting

 

 

 

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