Policy Implementation

4

Implications of Tobacco Smoking

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Implications of Tobacco Smoking

Each individual must ensure their health status remains in good condition. Over the past years, the use of tobacco has grown tremendously among the users and the elderly. Various statistical analysts portray a growing curve in the use of tobacco. The use of tobacco can be described as the constant use of smoking and the leaf plant's consequent product. It's achieved by inhalation of smoke through cigars, pipes, or cigarettes.

Tobacco use is a preventable cause of death, and most smokers, being ignorant, know the resultant health implications. If the various governments can limit tobacco use, statistics suggest that more lives will be saved, and more lives will be improved. When one smokes, they are exposed to more than 7 thousand chemical toxins with 70 carcinogens that can damage the human body's organs. To date, the effects of tobacco begin from birth; this is attributed to when a pregnant woman constantly exposed to smoke can give birth to children with disorders such as lung disease or cancer.

Smoking tobacco impacts different groups of people in different ways. For instance, a patient who is a regular smoker can lose 10 to 11 years of life when smoking tobacco—use of tobacco damages the air sacks and along the air track (Ngaruiya, 2018). Theses begin immediately with one cloud of smoke, although it may take several years for the effects to be noted. According to various studies, smokers are mainly a group between 18 to 29 years and are most targeted by the industry through the advertisements popularly used in the media.

The overall cost of smoking tobacco is immense and increases with the increase in the number of smokers. In terms of financial cost, cigarette smoking is usually expensive hence making an incentive to quit. Statistics say that an average addicted smoker spends almost 400 dollars a month which is good financial support for investments into other platforms such as fuel and covering mortgages. Further, more smokers are usually charged more for insurance policies due to their increased risk for chronic illnesses and medical costs throughout their life.

Effects of cigarette smoking affect not just you as the main smoker but also secondary smokers such as loved ones and colleges. Secondhand smokers mostly inhale the sidestream smoke characterized as escaping through the end of the cigarette consisting of most chemical toxin carcinogens. These have been attributed to cancers such as the bladder, stomach, lung, throat, or brain. Each year in the united states, smoking has been attributed to more than 36000 deaths for non-smokers. With up to 300000 lung infections for non-smokers.

With an increased number of smokers daily, the government has to put up more measures to curb smokers' rise. Tobacco smoking kills more than seven million people years, burdening the various economies with up to 1.4 trillion in health costs. This is shown clearly by how the multiple governments put high taxes and burning tobacco marketing in place. Although this hurts the organizations selling the products, it reduces the number of new addicts to tobacco smoking.

According to the world health organization, many government and non-governmental organizations have considered many measures to curb tobacco use: decreased employment in the retail manufacturing and agricultural sector. Increase of price on the different cigarette types, and increased tax revenues in this sector. Even with the various governments' immense complaints, almost 170 countries have shown their commitment to becoming part of the world health organization framework convention for tobacco control.

Healthy people, regarding tobacco use, have an overall goal of reducing disabilities, illnesses, and related deaths on tobacco use and secondhand exposures. Tobacco use is attributed to cause lung diseases, reproductive complications, heart diseases, arthritis, and reduced immunity. Healthy people 2020 outlines a framework that will involve limiting tobacco use to the extent to which it will not be a public menace. (Healthy People, 2020) This can be achieved through increased prices of tobacco. Implement anti-tobacco campaigns, funding programs to help control tobacco use, and put in place comprehensive smoke-free policies.

Social determinants of health are environmental conditions in which people live that affect health ad quality of life. Examples of social determinants include public safety, transportation, social norms, and healthcare services. For instance, low social-economic status has been attributed to increased smoking behaviour. These statuses include race, marginalization, low education, and income. An equal distribution of resources has also been attributed to inequities in tobacco prevention and control. (Brady, 2020) People who experience high levels of depression, stress, and mental disparities have been shown to have a short life span, with the continued use of tobacco increasing their mortality and mobility.

The centre for disease control(CDC) describes tobacco as the leading cause of diseases, death, and disability. In their statistical analysis, more than 1500 young adults under the age of 18 attempt their first cigarette, and almost 200 become cigarette smokers .according to the centre for disease control (2020), tobacco use damages the body through rising triglycerides, making blood likely to clot, and damaging cells alined in blood vessels. Every person whose death is attributed to smoking more than 30 others continues living with serious tobacco implications. Different programs through the CDC have been put in place to help people reduce tobacco use, like the 1-800, quite now toll-free line in which callers can undergo counselling and are provided with medications.

Various policies have been enacted to limit the use of tobacco. In 2019, the 116 congresses passed a bill to inhibit tobacco sales for persons under 21 years. The bill titled tobacco to 21 act of bill number H.R.2411 found that smoking caused more than 20 million premature deaths, costs the state at least 171 billion dollars on healthcare, and an estimated 5 million youth under 17 are projected to die. (116congress, 2019)Hence the secretary of health and human services authorized to enforce prohibitions, including undercover checks, to ensure compliance. Additionally, to take appropriate measures where necessary. In case of violation penalties under section 103Q of the family smoking and tobacco prevention act.

The policies put in place were mealy put to reduce the health implications of tobacco use. These policies, in some way, hinder the social determinant of health but with positive intent. Not everyone in the social-economic bracket is at the same level as Social determinants of health are associated with reduced opportunities and resources to improve and maintain health. This policy, therefore, does not hinder the social determinants of health but promotes the overall health of the individuals.

In the past decades, the tobacco industry has witnessed dramatical changes attributed to the policy changes put in place for tobacco use. Policies such as high taxations, increased financial cost on tobacco products. Put in place warning labels on tobacco papers and burning tobacco advertisements have reduced tobacco consumption. These, if implemented on all products containing nicotine, will reduce the risk of health causing problem.

References

116congress(2019). H.R.2411-tobacco to 21 act. Retrieved March 20, 2021. From https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2411/text

Brady, K. T. (2020). Social Determinants of Health and Smoking Cessation: A Challenge.

Center of disease and control(2020). Tobacco use. Retrieved March 20, 2021. From https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/tobacco.htm#:~:text=secondhand%20smoke%20exposure.-,Tobacco%20use%20is%20the%20leading%20cause%20of%20preventable%20disease%2C%20disability,200%20become%20daily%20cigarette%20smokers.

Healthy People, (2020). Tobacco Use. Retrieved March 20, 2021. From https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/tobacco-use

Ngaruiya, C., Abubakar, H., Kiptui, D., Kendagor, A., Ntakuka, M. W., Nyakundi, P., & Gathecha, G. (2018). Tobacco use and its determinants in the 2015 Kenya WHO STEPS survey. BMC Public Health, 18(3), 1-13.

Swedish (n.d) financial physical and social cost of smoking. Retrieved March 20, 2021. From https://www.swedish.org/classes-and-resources/smoking-cessation/financial-physical-and-social-costs-of-smoking