ICD-10 code: F17.200
Tobacco Use Disorder is part of a cluster of often co-occurring diagnoses called the substance-related and addictive disorders. Substance use disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that include:
These disorders are characterized by recurrent use of substances that causes significant impairment, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. Individuals with substance use disorders have difficulty controlling their drug use, trouble with social functioning, risky use, and pharmacological changes such as increased tolerance to substances and symptoms of withdrawal when they do not use substances. In addition, individuals with substance use disorders find it is very difficult to change their substance use despite negative consequences of their use and the desire to make changes. The severity of a substance use disorder - mild, moderate, or severe - is based on the number of criteria met.
Tobacco use disorder is a chronic disorder that often requires repeated interventions and multiple attempts to quit.
Tobacco use disorder may be defined as a problematic pattern of tobacco use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by at least two of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:
In 2014, 16.8% of U.S. adults aged 18 or older currently smoked cigarettes. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing over 480,000 deaths per year, or 1 out of every 5 deaths. Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard for people of all ages, causing more than 41,000 deaths each year.
More than 16 million Americans live with smoking-related disease. In recent years, smoking has declined - in 2005, 20.9% of U.S. adults were current smokers.
Smokeless tobacco products are a known cause of cancer, and are not a safe alternative to cigarettes. Cigars have many of the same health risks of cigarettes, including causing certain cancers. Not enough is currently known about electronic cigarettes to determine the health consequences and safety of these products.
Many factors influence whether individuals try tobacco, such as peer and family influences. Most adults who smoke cigarettes began during their teen years. Because nicotine is highly addictive, many people who try smoking will become addicted. Individuals who have other psychiatric and substance use disorders are particularly susceptible to tobacco use disorder.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services suggests tobacco use disorder is a chronic disorder that often requires repeated interventions and multiple attempts to quit, but that effective treatments exist that can significantly increase rates of long-term abstinence.