The risks associated with smoking
are known to just about everybody in the USA. Everyone knows how addictive and
destructive they can be, yet everywhere you go you see people still smoking.
Even physicians, nurses and people in the health care field who are suppose to
know better still do. I, not being a smoker or raised in a family of smokers,
don’t know why the obvious hazards of smoking don’t stop people but I can
assume part of the reason must be due to how hard it is to quit.
St. Lawrence has a prevention
program aimed a helping those trying to quit. Its called the “Great American
Smokeout” urges smokers to try and stop smoking for one day. This event is
sponsored by the American Cancer Society and gives smokers who make this pledge
the support and information they need to quit. The smoking rates in New York
are 18.1% for adults and 12.6% for high school teens, in St Lawrence County the
smoking rate is above 25%. It is estimated that smoking accounts for more than
8 billion dollars in medical cost in New York, including taxpayer funds for
Medicaid.
This program and others aimed at
smoking prevent aim not only to saves peoples lives but help reduce medical
costs and spending. Now that people are aware of the dangers of smoking,
programs need to focus their efforts on directing people to places where they
can get help. People need to know that it is possible to stop and there are
ways to do it that are very affordable, if not free. This event encourages people to call the toll
free New York State Quit Line, which gives the caller access to wide range of strategies
to quitting, coaching support and motivation.
Even though people are still taking
up smoking, which is their right to do so, they are doing it with the knowledge
of the dangers. But programs like these are important so that they know they
can get support when they decide they need to get help.
http://northcountrynow.com/news/great-american-smokeout-today-chance-cut-tobacco-use-st-lawrence-county-071656
I think it is really important that programs like these exist and are heavily pushed upon patients who engage in high-risk behavior. Smoking is such an avoidable health hazard and I am sure (as the article touches on) would save a ton of national/state healthcare spending if less people did it. We all know how addictive smoking is and sometimes without enough push from doctors, family members, etc. the addicted individual will not pursue an avenue to quit the bad habit. Programs such as the Great American Smokeout allow individuals to have the support and motivation they need to quit smoking, and are definitely desperately needed in counties such as St. Lawrence where the average smoking rate is higher than the average.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a great program. It probably won't influence the people who are committed to smoking, but for those who are considering quitting, a program like this could be very beneficial. For example if someone wanted to quit but didn't know how to or when to start this could be the catalyst that starts the process helping them start to quit smoking with the support of others in the community and teaching them lifelong lessons about ways to maintain a tobacco free lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteAny program that aims to help folks quit smoking, but especially a community-based program like this one, should be encouraged and supported by advertising in the local community. One important thing to consider is that tobacco smoke not only has a negative impact on the smokers themselves, but also on "innocent bystanders", such as children of parents who smoke, who are exposed to the toxins in second-hand smoke. Second hand smoke is a proven carcinogen. The American Cancer Society has a great fact sheet on the negative impacts of second hand smoke: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/secondhand-smoke.
ReplyDeleteI agree that any program that spreads the word about smoking and helps encourage quitting is a good program. I am a bit skeptical about how stopping for one day will impact people trying to smoke. Some may think it is too hard and become discouraged. Providing resources at an event like this is invaluable and may help persuade those people on the edge.
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