Research Paper on Prevention and Cessation of Tobacco Use

Introduction

Smoking has emerged as one of the most severe public health concerns that are responsible for an estimated 5 million preventable deaths annually. At such a rate, public health researchers predict that the mortality rate as a result of smoking tobacco would double by 2020. Not only is smoking detrimental to the user's health but it also culminates in detrimental societal costs, reduced productivity, aggravating poverty amongst families and contribution to indoor air pollution (Fairchild, Bayer & Colgrove, 2014). Equally important is the fact that contemporary research infers to the causal relationship between smoking and cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke. Consequently, this paper focuses on demystifying the ideal health advocacy programs that are directed towards prevention and cessation of tobacco use.

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Health Advocacy Programs Supporting Smoking Cessation

Research indicates that the exposure to second-hand smoke as a result of burning tobacco products culminates in premature death and some related illnesses amongst non-smokers. Equally important is the fact that there exists no risk-free level of second-hand tobacco and this indisputable and overwhelming evidence has culminated in the enactment of smoke-free laws and regulation at the federal level. Hence, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the implementation of Tobacco Control Laws which forms the fundamental platform through which a myriad of regulations may be derived (Carson et al., 2017). In essence, the tobacco control laws framework is directed towards preventing individuals more so youth and children from starting to use tobacco; diminishing the adverse health effects that are associated with tobacco use and assist people to desist from using tobacco products. Second-hand tobacco smoke has emerged as a public health concern such that it has prompted the implementation of smoke-free laws which forbids smoking in public areas such as restaurants and bars. Indeed, the enactment of such regulations has yielded positive health outcomes such as reduction in hospital admissions for heart attacks. The implementation of smoke-free indoor air laws including augmenting the price of cigarettes is an ideal policy that may be supported through the paradigms of tobacco control laws.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) may be utilized as an ideal health advocacy program to support the smoking cessation of tobacco. MI refers to a client-centered approach where a directive approach is applied to trigger positive behavioral change (Gostin & Sridhar, 2014). This occurrence may be attributed to the fact that the fundamental guiding principles involve developing discrepancy, endorsing self-efficacy, expressing empathy encouraging resistance against urges. In essence, MI may be broadly applied in behavioral medicine where it demonstrates prospective efficacy as a therapeutic intervention toward helping clients to stop smoking tobacco.

Attributes That have Made the Campaigns Effective

Perhaps the major highlight in the efforts geared towards the propagation of federal tobacco control efforts is illustrated by the report that was published by the Surgeon General Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health which concluded that smoking culminates in increased mortality. Consequently, this led to the formulation of Federal Cigarette Labelling and Advertising Act of 1965 which mandates the Federal Trade Commission to submit yearly reports to Congress on tobacco industry labeling and advertising practices. Moreover, tobacco manufacturing entities are required to issue and imprint visible health warning on cigarette packages. The turn of the millennium was signified by the formulation of Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform which banned smoking on all flight between overseas destinations and the United States. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 provides the contemporary legislative approach for curbing tobacco use although some provision remain subject to litigation (Espina et al., 2013). These include granting the FDA the veto power to regulate, distribute, manufacture and market tobacco products. Furthermore, the tobacco control act directs that firms associated with tobacco products ought to utilize conspicuous graphic warning labels and enlarged text warnings in smokeless tobacco products. Through the tobacco control act, the FDA has been enabled to carry out compliance check inspections as far as tobacco retailers are concerned. Violation of stipulated regulations may result in fines and the case of repeat offenders; a no-tobacco-sale order may be handed to the seller preventing the distribution of tobacco products. In addition to this, the tobacco control act prohibits the sponsorship of cultural, sporting or entertainment by tobacco manufacturing organization under the umbrella of smokeless tobacco or name of cigarettes.

Plan for Improving Health Advocacy Campaigns

One of the fundamental approaches of using the "three legs" of advocacy for smoke-free policies would be direct lobbying. Such an intervention involves making direct contact with the lawmakers in a bid to highlight the talking points concerning the issue. Moreover, the lobbyist is expected to be conversant with the ideologies that spearhead the problem including the prospective opposition that may negatively affect the subject matter. Hence, it is vital that a lobbyist represent both sides of the issue and offer a comprehensive analysis of the benefits of implementing smoke-free policies (Birkland, 2015). Conventionally, regulations to be executed are voted in based on their merits while also taking into account what is right for businesses. In the case of tobacco control intervention, direct lobbying would be concerned with highlighting the adverse health effects of second-hand tobacco smoke which is known to contain carcinogenic compounds. Hence, the enactment of smoke-free policies holds the promise of diminishing disability, illness and mortality as a result of tobacco use. Moreover, a comprehensive strategy of formulating smoke-free regulations would incorporate a clinical, economic, educational and social framework. Such tact presents the ideal pathway for eliminating the adverse economic and health effects of tobacco use. Political Action Committees (PACs) play the role of controlling the expenditure of funds during the election and re-election processes. Accordingly, the PACSs create an avenue where an individual may support his legislator who in turn helps the issues raised by lobbyists. Perhaps the most crucial consideration regarding advocacy efforts would be the establishment of a strong grassroots policy which increases efficacy in the legislative process. Without a doubt, the establishment broad-based interventions is an indicator that the systems to be adopted have the support of the business community in establishing smoke-free policies. Additionally, grassroots programs endorse public input with the aim of attaining effective smoke-free strategies and procedures which are directed towards improving public health.

The most significant barrier that is realized in enhancing smoke-free policies is embedded in the reluctance in the enforcement of the defined regulations. This occurrence may be as a result of complex legislative processes that create substantial impediments since additional underlying aspects are likely to generate more oppositions since many actors fear the outcome of the potential policy change. Regarding tobacco control regulations, many opponents such as manufacturers, tobacco growers and stakeholders in the hospitality industry may pose a challenge in the implementation of smoke-free policies. Other detractors argue that the advent of smoke-free policies interferes with the liberty of smokers to choose where and when to smoke (Issel & Wells, 2017). Consequently, this phenomenon has resulted in a compromise whereby ventilation is being sold as the solution to indoor tobacco smoking especially in entertainment spots such as casinos. Nonetheless, a collaboration between the government and civil societies that campaign for smoke-free policies is expected to yield positive results. This may be achieved through creating public awareness where proposed smoke-free regulations are in tandem with the preferences of the society since information on specific issues is solicited before publishing the final guidelines which are to be implemented into law.

References

Birkland, T. A. (2015). An introduction to the policy process: Theories, concepts, and models of public policy making. Routledge.

Carson, K. V., Brinn, M. P., Labiszewski, N. A., Esterman, A. J., Chang, A. B., & Smith, B. J. (2017). Community interventions for preventing smoking in young people. Health.

Espina, C., Porta, M., Schuz, J., Aguado, I. H., Percival, R. V., Dora, C., ... & Neira, M. (2013). Environmental and occupational interventions for primary prevention of cancer: a cross-sectorial policy framework. Environmental health perspectives, 121(4), 420.

Fairchild, A. L., Bayer, R., & Colgrove, J. (2014). The renormalization of smoking? E-cigarettes and the tobacco "endgame". New England Journal of Medicine, 370(4), 293-295.

Gostin, L. O., & Sridhar, D. (2014). Global health and the law. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(18), 1732-1740.

Issel, L. M., & Wells, R. (2017). Health program planning and evaluation. Jones & Bartlett Learning.