Public Health Issue: Smoking

Smoking is recognised as the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. It is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, renal disease and eye disease. Tobacco contains the powerfully addictive stimulant nicotine, which can make smoking a regular and long-term habit that is not easy to quit (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2014). Statistics show

Tobacco has and still is the most important public health issue faced in Australia and internationally. (Jochelson, 2006). Many countries such as North America, England, Australia, Canada and Ireland have introduced policies regarding smoking in public areas and restriction of smoking in indoor areas. (Thomson, Wilson & Edwards, 2009). The government, community leaders and policy makers work towards introducing policies that will stop consumers from smoking in public areas. (Pizacani, maher, Rohde, Drach & Stark, 2012). Government intervention should extend public smoking bans so that second hand smokers can be safe, a better environment and less death incidents relating to smoking.

In the United States, smoking cigarettes is the number one preventable cause of morbidity and death (Bergen, 1999), and accounts for $300 Billion in health care costs and economic productivity loss (Jamal, 2015). While the national smoking rate is 16.8% (CDC, 2016), specific demographics are more susceptible to developing smoking habits: people who live below the poverty line (10.9% higher), disabled or with a limitation (6.2% higher), and males (4.7% higher) (Agaku, 2014).

in order to sustain a healthier life style. This essay seeks to illustrate the impact of smoking on a

This study examined the health inequalities among different socio-economic groups from 2004 to 2014 among Australians whose age ranging from 20 to 65 years old. According to the study, the health risk factor behaviour; smoking by sex results indicated that males smoking were higher than females during the study period. The highest rate of smoking were reported among males in 2004. Smoking status by education groups suggested that the highest rate of smoking were accounted in year 12 or below group in all three years, while university degree holders accounted for the least group. The different income groups showed that the poorest people smoking percentage were higher compared to the richest and the percentage had increased when it was moving

In each year between 1998 and 2002, over 106,000 deaths in the UK, around a sixth of the total, were from smoking-related causes and smoking was the direct cause of about three in five of all cancers (Westlake, Yar, 2006:

“Smoking rates have halved in Australians over the past 30 years, falling below 16%. Except for in Indigenous populations, smoking rates have remained at more than twice this level, with even higher rates reported in remote communities” (RACGP, 2013) The inequality that has been faced by Indigenous people is still at an unacceptable level, and has “been identified as a human rights concern by the United Nations” (Dick, 2007). Smoking is a major issue because, “it is the most preventable contributor to the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples” (Ivers, 2011). “Smoking contributes to 17% of the life expectancy gap” (Australian Government: Department for Health and Welfare, 2011). The socio-economic disadvantage faced by Indigenous people leads to the addiction of tobacco, which can be caused by many factors including; their position on the social gradient, education, social exclusion, their employment status and their social support. There is a lack of developed personal skills on the health risks of tobacco, “some Aboriginals don’t identify smoking as a health issue” (Korff, 2014), due to the history of Aboriginal people around smoking. As well as first hand smoke, passive smoking also contributes to poor health, especially for children. Smoking is the major cause for heart disease, stroke, some cancers, lung diseases and a variety of other conditions (HealthInfoNet.ecu.edu.au, 2013). “If we could reduce tobacco consumption levels

Smoking is a particularly common and intractable addictive disorder and is the leading preventable cause of many preventable chronic illnesses and death, responsible for approximately six million annual mortalities Yet, despite the well documented consequences of smoking, despite the unequivocal benefits of quitting and despite facts such as that approximately 17,000 people die each day in the world from smoking prematurely, over a billion people around the world still continue to smoke people continue to engage in this health risk behaviour(www.who.int). This leads us to question what motivates an individual to smoke, and not to smoke.

This assignment identifies smoking as a public health issue, using epidemiology to justify the reasons why smoking is a public health issue. This assignment will show an understanding of the public health agenda and health promotion and will discuss and debate the ways in which health needs are assessed locally and nationally. In relation to the public health issue of smoking, many interventions have emerged, for the purpose of this assignment, the public health England Stoptober campaign will be discussed and evaluated. This assignment will explore the role of the health protection agencies and associated practises in maintaining and enhancing health.

Next the columnist begins a strongly worded evidenced-based approach by discussing the declining percentage of regular smokers. The Editorial begins to bring in numerous sources of evidence such as Anti-Cancer Council data and the survey results of Victorians from 1998 to 2006. This use of scientific statistics shows the reader that The Editorial offers an expertise point of view into the issue and has genuine factual evidence to back up their arguments. This would reassure the reader

Tobacco use is still very frequent, especially in low-income areas. Not only is it detrimental for the smokers themselves in terms of health, but also it harms those around them. Some health issues that occur are “lung cancer, heart disease, and colon cancer” (Haskins). For low income areas, smoking is one of the most leading causes of death, but it is a preventable cause. In order to help smokers to quit smoking, Haskin states that one suggestion is to raise the prices of tobacco and cigarettes, and another suggestion, especially for nonsmokers, is to have designated areas for smokers only and to have cities label certain public areas such as parks and common areas to be smoke-free zones. Because tobacco is addictive, receiving and seeking

In the U.S., only 20% of those at or above the poverty level smoke, compared with 30% of those below the poverty level (Hiscock, Bauld, Fidler, and Munafo, 2012). Teenage girls of families with lower SES are more likely to smoke (Hiscock et al, 2012). In addition, those with low SES are less likely to quit smoking successfully and may be less likely to intend or attempt to quit (Reid, Hammond, Boudreau, Fong, and Siahpush, 2010). Reid and coauthors surveyed over16,000 smokers in the US, UK, Canada and the United Kingdom and found that those with higher education were more likely to say they intend to quit smoking, attempt to quit and to be abstinent for between one and six months. Higher income was also associated with stated intention to quit and abstinence of at least one month (Reid et al, 2010). In addition, those with low SES

Researching the issue of smoking and tobacco addiction in Russia has allowed me to learn more about the history and culture of the country, and increase my understanding about the effects of smoking in Russian-speaking communities. Although no one in my close family smokes, I was surrounded by smokers when growing up and the issue of smoking remained unaddressed until I moved to Australia, where there are many anti-smoking campaigns and education about the effect of drugs on the mind and body. After researching the topic, I realised that my knowledge and understanding about this issue had been very minor before conducting this investigation.

There are also some reporting problems in the article regarding the applicability of the the study’s findings. The sample of the study was taken from several small, affluent Western European countries, where poverty is low, compared to many larger industrialised nations such as Canada, and where minorities make up a very small part of the population (i.e., it is mainly a white society) . Another incongruity is evident in the reporter’s assembling of data; the reporter cites a study done in Western Europe, based on western European data, but also quotes North American researchers, who confirm that the link between the independent variable (smoking) and the dependent variable (adult male deviance) exists. Thus the validity of the conclusion the article puts forth is questionable, as it may not be generalizable to all western societies.

For a country in our financial position the general health of Scotland is very poor. In some areas the average life expectancy is as low as 54 years old for men. A major cause of this is smoking. With the young in particular smoking is much more popular than it used to be. In October 2008, it was estimated that one third of 16-24 year olds smoke. This figure is at a 10 year high. In between the ages of 16-19 it is found that girls are more likely to smoke than boys.