Tobacco Use Research Papers Example

Abstract

The paper discusses about one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, tobacco use. It explains the various factors that lead to the consumption of tobacco. The paper provides information on the use of tobacco in the racial and ethnic populations of the United States. It gives a brief account of the demographic factors related to tobacco use, which include gender, race, ethnicity and age. The paper also states the adverse health effects as a result of consumption of tobacco, particularly the pregnant women. It provides numbers of the annual deaths in the United States as a result of consumption of tobacco in one form or the other. It mentions about the control measures and techniques that play a major role in discouraging the use of tobacco. The paper gives an account of various state, federal and local programs that prevent the use of tobacco. It also briefs about the recommended solutions that ensure the reduction or prevention of tobacco use, especially in young people who are the major victims. Finally, the paper concludes by describing the intervention programs to prevent tobacco use.
Reports of healthcare disparities have become a common place. Much of the debate has moved away from the question of if the disparities exist to why and what can be done about them. Tobacco use, high blood pressure, poor nutrition, physical inactivity and high blood cholesterol are the major risk factors that underlie cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases, which constitute the leading causes of death and disability worldwide . The use of tobacco is one of the major causes for various types of cancer in the minority populations. Differences in the magnitude of the disease risk directly relate to the differences in patterns of smoking. Tobacco use is not only prevalent in the United States, but also increasing and has marked racial, ethnic and geographic disparities.
Tobacco use varies both within and among the racial and ethnic minority groups. Among adults, Native Americans and Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of tobacco use followed by African Americans and Southeast Asians . Asian American and Hispanic women have the lowest preference. No single pattern determines the patterns of tobacco use as they are the result of complex interactions of multiple factors, such as socioeconomic status, cultural statistics, stress, targeted advertising, prices of tobacco products and the extent of tobacco control initiatives. Rates of tobacco-related cancers vary widely among members of racial and ethnic groups and are particularly high among African American men . The prevalence of tobacco use is high in the adolescents when compared to the adults.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death. In the United States, the number of deaths resulting from tobacco use each year is 480,000, including an estimated number of 41,000 deaths from secondhand tobacco exposure . About 18.1 percent of all adults consume tobacco in one or the other way, out of which 20.1 percent constitutes the male population and 14.5 percent constitutes the female population. While 21.8 percent of people who use tobacco are non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives, 19.7 percent belong to the non-Hispanic White population. 18.1 percent of non-Hispanic Blacks and 12.5 percent of Hispanics use tobacco . The percentage of tobacco use in non-Hispanic Asians is less at about 10.7 percent. Gender difference in the use of tobacco has narrowed down in the recent years with more females reporting the use of tobacco each day.
Tobacco is an important area of intervention in the African American population. The disproportionate targeting of communities of color for advertising and promotion of tobacco, the addictive nature of the product and the long-term consequences of tobacco use are the leading causes of death in the African American population. The tobacco companies mostly target the African American population by sponsoring cultural events, contributing to the African American higher education institutions and offering various scholarship programs . Surveys indicate that it is the school-aged students who get victimized to tobacco use at a very early age. Statistics also prove the use of tobacco in children less than 10 years of age. Tobacco use in pregnant woman is the major cause for the death or abnormalities of the fetus .
Clinical interventions are a reliable source in preventing tobacco use. Physicians and healthcare providers who take care of children are in a unique position to help their parents avoid the use of tobacco. Healthcare providers serve as powerful role models who positively influence the health behavior of individuals. Mass media are particularly appropriate prohealth channels for tobacco education among young people, who have heavy exposure to media . The general public has been receiving many astonishing messages in one form or the other to prevent young people from trying tobacco. The states have employed sophisticated marketing techniques to increase their effectiveness and ensure an adequate reach and frequency of statewide coverage.
The Teens as Teachers Program has been introduced by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. The program reaches young people who are vulnerable to tobacco addiction. Stop Teenage Addiction of Tobacco (STAT) is the only organization in the United States dedicated solely to the issues of teenage access to tobacco . STAT circulates newsletters to over 100000 persons worldwide. As a part of the school curriculum, voluntary organizations prevent tobacco use in youth. The National Parent Teacher Association has adopted a number of resolutions to recognize the hazards of tobacco use. State and federal tobacco control efforts help to create a social change in the individuals consuming tobacco. Most of the organizations and public places have adopted no-smoking zones to prevent public smoking. The Federal Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986 includes a mandate for health education programs and materials about the risks of tobacco .
Numerous national, state and local surveys have tried to access public opinion about restrictions on tobacco product advertising. Limiting specific type of tobacco advertising and promotional practices would help in the decreased use of tobacco in the individuals. Applying restrictions in the sale of certain tobacco products, such as sale to minors would also discourage the use of tobacco . The government should implement a strict legislature to prevent the use of tobacco and prevent the death of millions of individuals each year. An increase in the tobacco taxes would prevent the individuals from consuming tobacco for their higher prices. Social media are the best platforms to create awareness in the people about the side effects of tobacco use. The schools at all levels should deliver sessions from to time in order to discourage the students from becoming the victims of tobacco use.

References

Elders, M. J. (2011). Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People: A Report of the Surgeon General. DIANE Publishing.
Miles, T. P. (2012). Health Care Reform and Disparities: History, Hype, and Hope. ABC-CLIO.
Notaro, S. R. (2012). Health Disparities Among Under-served Populations: Implications for Research, Policy and Praxis. Emerald Group Publishing.
Practice, B. o. (2007). Ending the Tobacco Problem:: A Blueprint for the Nation. National Academies Press.
Williams, R. A. (2007). Eliminating Healthcare Disparities in America: Beyond the IOM Report. Totowa, NJ: Springer Science & Business Media.