The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identifies several special populations with unique concerns and needs that should be addressed in quitting use and initiation of tobacco.

Mental Illness

People living with mental illness are more likely to smoke than the general population. It is important to remember that because this population demonstrates a higher dependence on nicotine, they may require more intensive interventions.  Pharmacotherapy and counseling strategies need to be individualized to the patient’s current mental health and substance abuse status, quit history, and level of dependence. [i]

Smoking Cessation for Persons with Mental Health Illness – A Toolkit for Mental Health: This toolkit was created for mental health providers and clinicians. It provides a basic overview of mental health and smoking, an explanation of the toolkit, and a step-by-step analysis of how to successfully address smoking cessation among individuals with a mental health diagnosis.

• Tobacco Use and Mental Illness

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) smokers have several social, historic, and individual risk factors that make them a priority population of concern with regards to tobacco prevention and cessation. Studies reveal that the LGBT community has higher smoking rates than heterosexual individuals[ii]^,[iii].

Website for tobacco cessation resources like apps, text programs, and an Instagram. “This Free Life is a campaign that proudly celebrates the lives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

• Smokefree.gov
• ThisFreeLife 

A network of experts and professionals who aim to improve LGBT health by promoting best practices for tobacco reduction and other health disparities. 

• LGBT Health

Pregnancy

Smoking any tobacco product in any amount has both short-term and long-term detrimental effects and smoking particularly during the second or third trimesters is especially harmful to the baby. There is no "safe" level of smoking while pregnant.

Use of pharmacological interventions such as gum, pills or patches must be considered carefully as nicotine has adverse effects on the baby’s development despite the absence of tobacco’s numerous other chemicals.  As a result, behavioral techniques are the most ideal as they are associated with the least amount of side effects.[iv]

Smoke-Free Families is a national program supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working to discover the best ways to help pregnant smokers quit, and spread the word about effective, evidence-based treatments.

• Smoke-Free Families

A document for the Colorado Health Plan's program "Stickers-Suckers-Smokers" that contains the 5 A's and Stages of Change for quitting smoking during pregnancy in an easy-to-read two page chart format

• Rocky Mountain Health Plans 5 A's and Stages of Change (PDF)

E-Cigarettes and Pregnancy is a free, online interactive presentation on electronic nicotine delivery systems and their potential health effects during and after pregnancy, and discusses effective tobacco cessation treatments.

Training for Healthcare Professionals: "Smoking Cessation for Pregnancy and Beyond: A Virtual Clinic (Link will be available soon)

Youth

More than 80% of adult tobacco users in the United States began using tobacco regularly before age 18. The prevalence of tobacco use is now higher among teenagers and young adults than among other adult populations. Adolescents and teen smokers can be more susceptible to nicotine addiction and face unique developmental challenges in the initiation and cessation of cigarette smoking. They are an important group to target with regard to both prevention and cessation efforts.

Perception of health risks is evidently a crucial factor that can affect an adolescent’s decision to smoke. Initially forming in early childhood, these perceptions continuously develop in response to external influences from interactions with peers, educators, professionals, and advertisements. Medical professionals play an increasingly important role in educating youth on the dangers of tobacco.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention