INTRODUCTION
Consumption of tobacco is a complex public health issue and social problems (Kelker et al, 2013). Smoking is the leading cause of a single largest preventable morbidity worldwide (WHO, Tobacco profile, 2011, Spanopoulos et al, 2013). Opening of our society has led to increase in adolescents' smoking, World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated over 1.2 billion are smokers in the world; and nearly six million deaths worldwide each year (WHO, 2011). In 2009 over 80,000 deaths occurred in England as a result of smoking (DOH, 2011). Statistics (Fig 1) shows 150, 000 children between ages 11-15 are regular smokers in England (ASH, 2012; Cancer Research, UK, 2011), 21% of girls a 19% of boys indicating actively smoker (NHS; 2012). However, If current trends persist, one billion people would be killed in the 21st century, 10 million estimated deaths per year will be attributable to its use by 2020 (WHO; 2008). New strategies have to be planned in order to tackle and reduce the consumption of tobacco in the adolescent. This assignment aims to synthesis and evaluate the current evidence on tobacco consumption amongst adolescence in both gender aged between 11-15 years old who are living in Birmingham- West Midlands (UK) . Current polices and strategies which are already in use would be critically appraised, various health behaviors will also be analyzed.
Fig 1: Statistic of adolescent smoking in both sexes
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/lung/smoking/children
BACKGROUND
Birmingham is Britain’s second largest city located in the west midlands region of England. It is a diverse and densely populated city of over a million of people (Birmingham Public Health, 2012, Simpson et al 2007)...
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...or associated of its consumption. In another attempt to prevent young people in England and Wales starting to smoke the age at which a person could legally purchase cigarettes was raised from 16 years to 18 years.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, tobacco consumption is a big public health challenge where it should be address as such. A comprehensive framework of tobacco control policies has been implemented in the UK to reduce the burden so the framework continues to develop. Strategies which are implemented by Government has helped in reducing the number of adolescent smoking who are the key drivers in the epidemic in England over the past years however, other strategies might have a few downsides but this can be resolved. Communities and schools must be working other agencies to start on a small scale before turning out the programs to a large scale implementation.
In the year 2000, smoking has fallen out of public favour and is seen as an undesirable social and physical health hab...
Over the years, the partnership between health ministers and health groups has produced some very substantial gains on the subject of tobacco use. Smoking bans that were thought of as radical 20 years ago are now commonplace. Public awareness of smoking risks has never been higher. And our new Tobacco Act sets a world standard for anti-tobacco legislation.
This essay is aimed to explore, analyse and discuss smoking in adults. Smoking is a public health issue as such is one of the major contributors to high mortality and ill-health in the adults which is preventable (Health and Excellence Care (NICE) (2012). The United Kingdom (UK) is known to have the highest number of people with a history of smoking among people with low socio-economic status (Scriven and Garman, 2006; Goddard and Green, 2005). Smoking is considered a serious epidemic in the UK and the National institute for Health and Excellence Care (NICE, 2012) stated that 28% of adults with low economic status are tobacco smokers compared with 13% of those with economic status or having professional incomes. Furthermore almost 80,000 people died in England in 2011 as a result of smoking related issues and 9,500 admissions of children died due to being second hand smokers (WHO, 2005). This essay focuses on definition of smoking, the aim is to underline the relationship between smoking and the determinants of health and then, the size, prevalence, and morbidity trend of smoking will be explored. Furthermore, some public health policies introduced to confront the issues around smoking will be investigated and finally, the roles of nurses will identify health needs the public so as to promote good health and their wellbeing.
Smoking cigarettes is a detrimental practice not only to the smoker, but also to everyone around the smoker. According to an article from the American Lung Association, “Health Effects” (n.d.), “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing over 438,000 deaths per year”. The umbrella term for tobacco use includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigs and chewing tobacco. While tobacco causes adverse health consequences, it also has been a unifying factor for change in public health. While the tobacco industries targets specific populations, public health specifically targets smokers, possible smokers, and the public to influence cessation, policies and education.
Smoking is a lifestyle, a habit, and a trend. Smoking has become a social activity among teens, connecting them through the craving of a smoke. Smoking is seen as seductive and cool in the media and movies which influences teenagers to smoke even more. The World Health Organization has stated that “Tobacco kills around 6 million people each year. More than 5 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while more than 600,000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.” As of April 2016, only 7% of teenagers in the U.S. smoke, but it is said that tobacco use will kill 8 million people annually by 2030. 99% of adult smokers start in their years as teenagers. Smoking is an epidemic that has taken control of people’s lives since 1881 and the media since the early 1900s. Smoking currently kills about 440,000 people a year in the U.S. I feel that it is an issue because it is the #1 most preventable way to die, but people still continue to smoke because of how it looks and how they are perceived as a person if they do. The fact that people become addicted to a trend that will attribute to their death for the sake of being thought of as cooler, is a problem that needs to be addressed.
From the above few paragraphs, we are able to learn how young smokers can be affected by smoking cigarette especially young smokers that are legally allowed to smoke. Currently the age limit of smoking cigarette is starting to change from 18 to 21; according to the New York Times Needham, Mass.., Boston and New York, raised the smoking age to 21 (Hartocollis). States start to increase the age limit of smoking cigarette to 21 because they have realized they were using the wrong age limit for smoking cigarette. The united states spend a lot of money on health care concerning cigarette smoking, but if the age limit is raised to 21, The country might save millions of dollars.
...more than twice as likely as youth without smoking parents to become smokers. More than 90 percent of adult smokers started when they were teens. A 2001 Survey found that 69.4 percent of teenage smokers reported never being asked for proof of age when buying cigarettes in a store. The same survey found that 62.4 percent were allowed to buy cigarettes even when the retailer was aware they were under eighteen.
It is outstanding to note that, the number of Canadians who smoke is at staggering 21%, that constitutes to a population of 5.9 million smokers aged 15 years and older (Sen & Wirjanto 2010). Additionally, approximately 27,000 avoidable deaths stem from tobacco use yearly in Canada in recent years. Sen & Wirjanto also notes that 11.2 %, of youth in Canada that is approximately 374,000 are current smokers (2010). Most of them, in the absence of the required policies, will probably keep on smoking for years to come. A youth smoking survey conducted showed that, a high percentage of the youth engage are smoking
There are many pros and cons to raising the legal smoking age to 21. Experts have given their inputs and people lawmakers have discussed this topic numerous times. Even after the countless times on this topic being brought to light there has not been a change in many years. The two sides may battle back and forth about how there are health risks with tobacco, but some view it as it is their body and they can do as they please. Although there are many risks it may not be the government’s business to intrude on peoples’ lives so the age may never
The Victorian ‘Tobacco Act 1987) was the first broad tobacco legislation and aimed to reduce smoking prevalence. The Act states ‘A person must not sell a tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years.” (Human Service Western Region Tobacco Project Report) As part of this Government intervention, penalties were introduced with the maximum penalty for breaching the provision being $1000 first offence, $2000 second offence and possible loss of tobacco license for subsequent offences. Tobacco sales make up a large percentage of convenience stores sales (Refer to 5.????) and this Government crackdown on cigarettes which has continued to be prevalent has in some respects increased cigarette sales. The state government has acknowledged and concluded “A Disproportionate number of cigarette sales to minors occurred at milkbars and service station convenience stores compared to supermarkets, newsagents, and tobacconists.)
In recent years, smoking has started to take over the lives of many teenagers. The number of teenagers smoking has increased dramatically in the last several years. This is a major problem because smoking can lead to sickness and major diseases that can lead to death. Teens tend to participate in this while out of the presence of an adult figure. Although teens should not be smoking in the first place, an adult figure should be around to help insure that their children are doing the right things, even when they are behind sealed doors with their peers. Teenagers as they mature become a model for younger children and when they set the example of smoking can ruin their respectable image to the children that look up to them.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality in the United Kingdom (UK), and smoking related deaths exceed the sum of deaths from the next six most common causes of preventable mortality (HM Government, 2011). Statistics show that the prevalence of smokers is highest in the younger age group
There is an urgent need to make non-smoking appear cool and desirable. The number of people lighting up is on the rise.In 1986, when the first National Health and Mobility Survey was carried out by the Ministry of Health to find out the number of smokers, the figure stood at 21.5 per cent. However, in the last study published in 1996, the number of smokers rose to 24.8 per cent.Of these figures, those aged between 15 and 24 in 1986 made up 11.5 per cent. In 1996, the age barrier shifted to between 18 and 24. Yet the percentage increased to 33.6 per cent, proving that young smokers are lighting up more, influenced by their elders and trying to fit into the the image of cool as depicted by their movie and music idols.
Tobacco and alcohol are two kind of drug are used and abuse in United States. Both of the drugs are legal in United States but that doesn’t a necessary mean that tobacco and alcohol is better for health. More than 500,000 people died from tobacco every year in United States, while more than 75,000 people died from alcohol every year in United States. Minimum age to buy tobacco is 18 year and to buy alcohol is 21. 75% or more people died from tobacco than alcohol but still in United States the tobacco. Both of them tobacco and alcohol drugs are bad for heath and it can lead to death. Lot of people is drive while drinking or smoking, even though it is against the law. Most of them are young people who are between 21 to 25 age year old, they thinking that drinking or smoking while driving is cool but they don’t realizes that it is not good for themselves.
Stopping teens from smoking is a big challenge many communities face today. Many communities can only watch without action while local businesses continue to sell tobacco products to minors, even under risk of penalty of law.