Introduction:
Smoking constitutes one of the most problematic health and social issues facing the modern society. The world Health Organisation states that tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world, with smoking related illnesses killing about 5 million people yearly world-wide (WHO, 2004). The need to eradicate this menace has therefore become expedient now than ever. In order to do this, the factors which influence people to smoke must be identified together with the interventions that can be made so as to prevent or stop people from smoking.
Influences and Interventions in Smoking
Smoking is influenced at four different levels; the individual, the family, the locality and the society at large.
At the individual level, different factors lead different people to smoking. Most of the time, people start smoking by trying to experiment something new but eventually get hooked in the progress.
For example, Wade, an American heavy smoker claimed to have started smoking at about 16 when it was important to be willing to try new and somewhat forbidden things. Because of the addictive nature of cigarette, Wade became habitual smoker. He found it difficult to stop smoking despite his awareness of the dangers of smoking, having lost his uncle who died from a smoking related illness. As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. The best intervention effective at this level is that which can prevent the individual from ever thinking to start smoking at all. This is why education and public enlightenment are very important. The individuals, especially the teenagers should be discouraged from smoking by making them realise the dangers inherent in it.
The family influence in smoking must not also be overlooked. Some individuals start smoking by imitating their parents. Seeing the father or the mother smoke, the child may think that smoking is good. This happened to Wade mentioned above, who described his father as ‘a two pus pack per day man’. Bearing this in mind, the parents must be of good examples to their children. A non-smoking parent will have the confidence to tell his children point blank that smoking is bad and dangerous. Moreover, while trying to quit smoking, a cigarette addicted parent must constantly warn his children not to take after him and express his frustration and efforts to stop as quick as possible.
The locality also has its own influence on smoking. This includes the neighbourhood, peer group, school and office mates. Belonging to a smoking peer group can influence the individual to start smoking. For example, thirteen-year old Craig, a school student in Swansea, started smoking along with some of his classmates, thinking that smoking is ‘cool’ and that those who tell him to stop only don’t want to recognise that he is growing up (Finlay et al 2005)
The intervention at this level must be tricky and multifaceted. Craig for instance would neither listen to his parents nor wear a nicotine patch. Therefore, his non-smoking brother, sister or cousin must step in. In addition, his school could even join a smoking prevention programme as a way of discouraging young people in their early teens from experimenting with tobacco or help them break the habit.
The family influence in smoking must not also be overlooked. Some individuals start smoking by imitating their parents. Seeing the father or the mother smoke, the child may think that smoking is good. This happened to Wade mentioned above, who described his father as ‘a two pus pack per day man’. Bearing this in mind, the parents must be of good examples to their children. A non-smoking parent will have the confidence to tell his children point blank that smoking is bad and dangerous. Moreover, while trying to quit smoking, a cigarette addicted parent must constantly warn his children not to take after him and express his frustration and efforts to stop as quick as possible.
The locality also has its own influence on smoking. This includes the neighbourhood, peer group, school and office mates. Belonging to a smoking peer group can influence the individual to start smoking. For example, thirteen-year old Craig, a school student in Swansea, started smoking along with some of his classmates, thinking that smoking is ‘cool’ and that those who tell him to stop only don’t want to recognise that he is growing up (Finlay et al 2005)
The intervention at this level must be tricky and multifaceted. Craig for instance would neither listen to his parents nor wear a nicotine patch. Therefore, his non-smoking brother, sister or cousin must step in. In addition, his school could even join a smoking prevention programme as a way of discouraging young people in their early teens from experimenting with tobacco or help them break the habit.
At the societal level, the strongest influence on smoking is the big tobacco companies. Many efforts of the government to tackle the problem of smoking have always been rendered ineffective by the activities of the big tobacco companies. For instance, researchers have long established the link between smoking and cancer but the full facts have always been blocked by giant tobacco companies. They did not only reject the scientific evidence linking smoking with cancer, but also concealed the fact that they were adding substances to cigarettes to make them more addictive .
According to BBC report, tobacco companies add ammonia compounds to cigarettes to speed up the delivery of nicotine to the brain. Added also are the chemicals that strengthen nicotine’s impact on the brain and the central nervous system. The tobacco companies have also found a way of increasing the nicotine content of cigarettes .
In addition, tobacco companies use sophisticated advertisement strategies to hook new smokers. They have invested very heavily in advertising trying to portray cigarettes as glamorous and desirable (King and Siegel, 2001). Apart from targeting different groups of people like teenagers and women, they also know how to tap into different cultures. For instance, in Latin America they use images of sexy women while they use successful young men with western lifestyle in pakistan.
The intervention used in the western world in this regard such as court action against big tobacco companies as well as banning cigarette advertising and prohibiting smoking at work and in public places are helping in reducing the level of smoking in the society.
Conclusion
Smoking is influenced at different levels. These are the individual, family, locality and society. I have stated different interventions that I think can be effective at this levels. I consider the big tobacco as the strongest influence at the societal level. Among other measures, banning cigarette advertising and prohibition of smoking at work and in public places are the most effective interventions in this regard.
REFERENCES
BBC (1999a) Cigarettes: a complex cocktail of chemicals, BBC News Online, 15 October, Available on www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/health/background-briefings/smoking/281167stm
Feeley, J., (2001) B & W Unit Lied About Low-Tar cigarettes: Cancer Risk Jury Told, Action on Smoking and Health, 6 February, Available on www.no-smoking.org/feb01/02-06-01html
Finlay, L, Person, C and Ram, S, (2005), Understanding Health, Milton Keynes, The Open University
Hampton, W, (2001), My Story, available on www.tobaccosurvivors.org/wadehampton.htm
King, C. and Siegel, M.,(2001), ‘The Master Settlement agreement with the Tobacco Industry and Cigarette Advertising Magazines’, New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 345, no. 7, 16 August.
New Internationalist (2004), ‘Tobacco: the Facts’, New Internationalist, no. 369, July.
WHO (2004), ‘Why is tobacco a public health priority?’ World Health Organisation, 19 September, Available onwww.whoint/tobacco/en/
thanks a lot for taking time to discuss this subject with us.http://www.listasegmentada.com
incredibly awesome.http://www.stanark.com
i want to thank you for this informative read, i really appreciate sharing your post.http://www.comercioenegocios.com
i think to write in blogs, you have to be very focused on what is the main subject and the rest comes casually.http://www.celularesdesbloqueados.net
your post is really good and informative. i’m surprised that your post has not gotten any. good quality, genuine comments. you have done a great job by posting this article. thanks!!!http://www.queroouvirmusica.com
this article is really a great help especially to a newbie like me. great one.http://www.tapesys.com
I smoked for about 15 years. I tried the gum and the patch wtoihut success. Finally, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. This woke me up. Unfortunately, it took the threat of death to end my addiction. I have not smoked for a long time now and never will. I am feeling better and better all of the time. The point is, smoking is a mental thing. At least in my case it was. This video is awesome though. The key, like you said, is to re-program your mind.
cool post thanks!http://www.netbookasus.org
great article. please keep helping us with your good ideas and your advices.http://www.carrosblindado.com
good post.http://www.gschwab.com
this site is very nice. regards.http://www.casaemail.com.br
this is a great inspiring article. i am pretty much pleased with your good work. you put really very helpful information.http://www.kitsucesso.com
happy i found your blog, there are so many useful things in here. i’ve bookmarked you so i can always have access to your posts.http://www.divulgaemail.com
this article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. this is particularly a nice one and gives in-depth information. thanks for this nice article.http://www.kitsucesso.com
I started sonmikg 20 years ago (roughly). I started thinking about e-cigs about six months ago. I have no desire to quit sonmikg, but I was concerned about the health ramifications. E-cigs seem like a way for me to have a habit that I enjoy, but with fewer health concerns. And, this will sound silly, but my cats factored into my decision to switch. I worried about their little lungs. (I know I know not so concerned about my lungs, but OH NO don’t mess with the kitty!) I didn’t like the way they’d react when they’d get near me with a lit cigarette. They’d wince and dash away from it. They do not react negatively to the e-cig. One nuzzled the LED today seriously. I think they like the light. My starter kit arrived two weeks ago. (I’m new to vaping, but I’m here because I hope to help others.) My transition has been very smooth. I still think about analog cigarettes, but not strongly enough to go out and buy them. There is some element that’s missing with e-cigs. I can’t quite identify it. I’m not experiencing nicotine withdrawals, but I can tell there’s something I was getting before that I’m not getting now. It’s very minor and vague.I’m using Blu and I’m very happy with it. It was the correct choice for me, but it may or may not be the correct choice for someone else. My mother has ordered her starter kit and, if the situation allows, I’ll report on her progress with the transition from sonmikg to vaping as appropriate. +4Was this answer helpful?
Howdy. I’m wondering if you would be interested in doing a link exchange? I see your website: http://www.giantsteponline.com/?p=29 and my blog are centered around the same topic. I’d really like to switch links or perhaps guest author a write-up for you. Here is my personal contact: Schones@gmail.com. Be sure to contact me if you’re even slightly interested. Thanks.
Hello there. I noticed your site title, “How Big Businesses Let Smokers Down « Best Online Business Ideas” does not really reflect the content of your website. When composing your blog title, do you think it’s most beneficial to write it for Search engine optimisation or for your viewers? This is something I’ve been struggling with due to the fact I want great rankings but at the same time I want the best quality for my website visitors.
Actually, I don’t write for search engines. I publish my post for the benefit of my readers. I intended that post for another blog of mine. I just published it here temporarily. I may delete it as soon as it gets published on the other blog.
Thanks
It appears to me that this website doesnt download on a Motorola Droid. Are other people getting the same problem? I enjoy this web site and dont want to have to skip it any time Im away from my computer.