Drug Addiction in Teenagers: Smoking and Other Lifestyles

In the first part of this assignment, the health problem of drug addiction was considered among teens and the most vulnerable group was established. Consequently, academic literature has been reviewed regarding evidence-based interventions and the most effective methods were identified. Finally, an appropriate health promotion framework was chosen for the future proposal. This paper will build on the ideas from the previous part, propose a specific plan for a health promotion program, detail the intended outcomes and suggest appropriate evaluation criteria for the outcomes.

Firstly, a formal rehabilitation establishment should be organized. The resources should be raised via promotional campaigns and additional government funding in the local community where there is high number of adolescent drug abuse cases. Simultaneously, information should be gathered by a combination of social workers, local community gatherings and online forms about all the teenagers that suffer from various drug addictions. When the amount of donations reaches an appropriate level, a large facility should be rented and refurnished for the purposes of a rehabilitation clinic. A number of professionals specialising in adolescent drug addiction, including doctors and nurses, should be hired from the local community or alternatively from the neighboring states using the same donation money. Kumar et al. highlight that the most efficient way to deal with drug addiction is the combination of “addiction treatment medicines with behavioral therapy,” thus, the professionals should include therapy counselors and medicine specialists (2019, 38). Furthermore, the authors emphasize that “any attempt to stop using drugs will leave drug abusers vulnerable to powerful symptoms of withdrawal, which can put their recovery and their health in jeopardy” (Kumar et al, 2019, 38). Hence, the availability of a nurse in an advanced role that would supervise a number of youngsters throughout their period of withdrawal is necessary. Moreover, Hovhannisyan et al. mention Very Integrated Program (VIP) which identifies other unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, which should be assessed in parallel with drug addiction. Finally, according to Wamsley et al., all the teenagers that attend the program should be categorized as those at risk of relapse and labelled with substance use disorder (SUD) (2018).

Ultimately, the timeline for this health promotion program implementation is the following:

  • Research, development, and organization of fundraising campaign (one-two months)
  • Conduction of fundraising campaign and raise of money (three-four months)
  • Rent and refurbishment of rehabilitation clinic facility (four-six months)
  • Total time for implementation of the program: ~ one year
  • Evaluation of results achieved by each individual (monthly)
  • Evaluation of results achieved by the program (annually)

With respect to SMART goals, the implementation of a new health promotion program is achievable in one academic year. Furthermore, considering the natural decline in the adolescent drug use mentioned in the first part of this assignment, a realistic goal would be to reduce the number of drug addiction cases in teenagers by 10-15% in the span of five years. Unfortunately, it is less realistic to influence such risk factors as poor supervision and general background problem that youngsters struggling with drug addiction may encounter but it is certainly realistic to improve teens’ awareness of drug use and its consequences.

With regard to the evaluation procedures, the majority of the information gathered would be the statistical data regarding the physical and mental well-being of the current and ex-patients as well as the duration of periods of abstinence. As they would be returning back to their potentially unhealthy environments after the program, it is paramount to ensure that the risk of a relapse is minimum. Based on those observation, the success rate of the program as well as the reduction in the number of drug addiction cases in teenagers can be assessed, evaluated, and estimated.

In conclusion, the biggest barrier to the implementation of the program would be potential inability to raise the required funds in which case the program would be cut down or abandoned altogether. In the case of budget reduction, a small office space can be rented instead of a larger facility with the number of nurses and specialists cut to a necessary minimum.

References

Hovhannisyan, K., Adami, J., Wikström, M., and Tønnesen, H. (2018). Very Integrated Program (VIP): Smoking and other lifestyles, co-morbidity and quality of life in patients undertaking treatment for alcohol and drug addiction in Sweden. Research and Best Practice, 8(1), pp. 14-19. Web.

Kumar, A., Dangi, I., & Pawar, R. S. (2019). Drug addiction: A big challenge for youth and children. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4(1), 35-40. Web.

Wamsley, M., Satterfield, J. M., Curtis, A., Lundgren, L., and Satre, D. D. (2018). Alcohol and drug screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) training and implementation: Perspectives from 4 health professions. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 12(4), 262-272. Web.

The Stop Smoking Movement Analysis

Propaganda campaigns are prevalently utilized in politics, media advertisements, revolution campaigns, and activism to persuade the audience to believe in and conform to their doctrines. One significant example of an active propaganda campaign in this century entails “The Stop Smoking Movement.” The paper discusses the ideology, objective, characteristics, context, special techniques, organization culture, target audience, media strategies, audience reaction, counter-propaganda and the effectiveness of the “Stop Smoking” Movement.

“The Stop Smoking” campaign is a prevalent example of a propaganda campaign that demonizes cigarette smoking but fails to account for the rising vaping cases among the youth. In particular, the antismoking campaigns aim to propagate behavioral change in active smokers by conveying the detrimental impacts of cigarette smoking through various media ads. In particular, the antismoking ads are geared towards inhibiting the smoking initiation among the young populations, shielding smoking commencement in the older generations, halting progression to addictive smoking, and motivating smoking cessation among the young adults (Brennan et al., 2017). Besides, numerous antismoking campaigns strive to emancipate the audience to evade smoking habits perceived as healthy because they lack tobacco, for instance, e-cigarette smoking (Ethan, 2020). The “Stop Smoking” movement therefore aims to curb both tobacco smoking and electronic cigarette use by young people.

The current antismoking campaigns assume the social, economic, health, and historical contexts. The economic ideology of antismoking campaigns establishes that avoiding or quitting smoking can enable one to save the money utilized in purchasing cigarettes as well as the hospital bills incurred when attending to smoking-related health complications (Brennan et l., 2017). Additionally, the social context of the antismoking campaigns aims to emancipate the public that smoking affects one’s social life, self-esteem, communication, productivity, self-respect, and marriages (Brennan et al., 2017). In particular, some cigarette ads portray images of active cigarette smokers as outliers and despised by the rest of society. The historical context of antismoking propaganda campaigns can be traced back to 1961 when the American Cancer Society initiated the initial campaign (Mendes, 2014). Furthermore, E-cigarettes were initially developed by Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, in 2003 to reduce tobacco smoking, particularly among the youths (Ethan, 2020). In particular, the antismoking campaigns have been hijacked by proponents that champion e-cigarettes as essential in facilitating smoking cessation among active smokers.

The “Stop Smoking” movement applies special persuasive techniques in its quest to suppress cigarette smoking among youths and adults. For instance, the antismoking initiatives use personalized images in depicting physical body areas affected by prolonged cigarette smoking, the lungs and limbs to warn smokers Additionally, the antismoking messages strive to persuade the audience of the economic benefits of avoiding cigarette smoking, for instance, saving unnecessary daily purchases and suppressing medical costs (Brennan et al., 2017). At the same time, the antismoking ads oppose detrimental alternative strategies of ceasing smoking, for instance, using nicotine patches, and vaping. Furthermore, in an attempt to curb cigarette smoking, the “Stop Smoking” campaign counters messages concerning healthy smoking and lucrative vaping flavors to be experienced by youth.

The “Stop Smoking” movement encompasses a centralized organization whose campaigns are spearheaded by the American Cancer Society. Moreover, the American Cancer Society forefronts various campaigns to curb the smoking rates among active smokers. Furthermore, the American Cancer Society partners with various local and international funding companies to oversee awareness campaigns to curb smoking at local and international levels (Mendes, 2014). Additionally, the “Stop Smoking” movement spearheaded by the American Cancer Society possesses the culture of safeguarding the populations from the detrimental health impacts of cigarette smoking.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the propagandist of the “Stop Smoking Movement”, and it has a distinct target market. The ACS passes its campaign messages through print, mass, and social media platforms. The propagandist aims to educate the audience on the potential harms that cigarette smoking can impose on their health. Additionally, the propagandist focuses on persuading non-smokers to avoid first-time smoking and active smokers to cease their smoking habits. Furthermore, the target audience of the “Stop Smoking” includes active tobacco smokers and e-cigarette smokers. The campaign focuses on active cigarette smokers, majorly Gen X and the Baby Boomer, Gen Z and the Millennials, who mainly engage in e-cigarette smoking, and non-smokers.

The antismoking propaganda campaigns utilize various social media, mass media, and print media channels to pass their message to the audience. In the present decade, antismoking advertisements are conveyed via various avenues such as television, radio, warning messages on tobacco packets, and via internet sites and social media pages. Besides, the “Stop Smoking” movement tailors specific antismoking messages through various social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. The media messages are designed to include visual and text descriptions of the side effects of cigarette smoking and the potential mitigation strategies.

The antismoking propaganda campaign is characterized by fear appeals, images of the detrimental health impacts of cigarette smoking, and the emotional appeal illustrating the health gains of avoiding smoking. Additionally, the antismoking campaign utilizes vital rhetorical principles. The propaganda campaign utilizes logos to appeal to logic to its supporters by highlighting that even though cigarettes are legal, smoking remains harmful to their health; hence it is necessary to quit (Reis & Postolache, 2019). Besides, the pathos entailing emotional appeal is evident in the propaganda campaign and is represented by accompanying images of damaged lungs and sick smokers that the audience can identify with (Reis & Postolache, 2019). Furthermore, the logos, entailing the logic, is used in elaborating the harmful impacts of smoking through actual data on casualties and deaths resulting from smoking, images of affected smokers versus healthy people, and detriments of alternative measures such as vaping.

Audience reaction to the “Stop Smoking” movement has been positive for tobacco smokers but negative for e-cigarette smokers, particularly due to the introduction of fear appeals that inform the smokers of the detrimental health impacts of smoking. For instance, since the initial report on health and smoking by Surgeon General in 1964, the cigarette smoking rates among adults in the United States have drastically reduced from approximately 43% to 14% in 2018 (Kim et al., 2020). Much of the shift from conventional cigarette smoking can be attributed to the heightened visualization and manifestation of the detrimental health impacts of cigarette smoking in various mass, print, and social media sites. Whereas tobacco smoking has immensely reduced, the rates of smoking e-cigarettes continue to rise in the United States. For instance, in the United States, approximately 3.6 million high and middle school students utilized e-cigarettes in 2020 within 30 days (Kim et al., 2020). Furthermore, among the adult populations, approximately 56% of persons aged between 18 and 24 and who have never smoked tobacco smoke e-cigarettes (Kim et al., 2020). The increasing shift from tobacco smoking to vaping can be attributed to the increasing appeal of e-cigarettes to the youths

The counter-propaganda against the “Stop Smoking” movement entails the propaganda peddled by cigarette-producing companies on the perceived benefits of their products. For instance, the tobacco industry has a long history of media control, where they strive to construct a positive image in the market. Since tobacco smoking is not illegal, most tobacco manufacturing companies resort to support from the First Amendment. In this regard, the counter-propaganda involves support for cigarette smoking due to its legal nature and the leisure it offers the active smokers.

Additionally, the counter-propaganda that supports e-cigarette smoking entails the perception that it is safer and less harmful to health than conventional tobacco. For instance, numerous companies have developed e-cigarette products such as tank systems, vapes, vape pens, mods, and e-hookas (Ethan, 2020). These products are meant to aid active smokers in quitting tobacco smoking and resorting to vaping. Whereas the government heavily regulates tobacco-related advertisements, e-cigarettes can be freely advertised by e-cigarette companies. Against this backdrop, e-cigarette advertisers promote their products as having fewer chemicals than tobacco.

The “Stop Smoking” campaign has been partly effective in curbing the comprehensive tobacco smoking rates in active smokers. Whereas the number of tobacco smokers has considerably depreciated following the inception of the stop smoking campaigns, the number of e-cigarette smokers has considerably increased (Belluz, 2019). The reduction in the number of tobacco smokers can primarily be attributed to the fear appeal induced by the warning messages and pictorial illustrations of the cigarettes in ads that emancipate the audience on the harmful health impacts of smoking. Consequently, the audience gets discouraged from active tobacco smoking in a bid to safeguard their health.

Conversely, “Stop Smoking” has not succeeded in curbing the rising e-cigarette smoking rates among the youth. Whereas vaping was taught in the United States to suppress cigarette smoking, it has triggered a vaping pandemic among the youth and teens. For instance, in 2019, approximately 28% of high school students reported having used nicotine vapes (Belluz, 2019). Additionally, in 2019, the rate of vaping in middle schoolers escalated from 5% to 11 % (Belluz, 2019). The swelling numbers of teens utilizing vapes in the US can be attributed to the high exposure to Juul-based nicotine products (Belluz, 2019). Besides, many fruit-flavored, mint-flavored, or methanol-flavored e-cigarettes have increased the number of persons who actively vape.

Overall, the “Stop Smoking” campaign has been partly successful in suppressing smoking rates in the US population. In particular, the movement has drastically reduced tobacco smoking rates but has failed to combat the rising e-cigarette smoking patterns. Furthermore, the propaganda campaign is unethical in using the fear appeal to discourage active smokers from consuming tobacco (Reis & Postolache, 2019). For instance, tobacco and cigarette smoking is a legal business, and campaigning against it goes against the provisions of the right to free business enshrined in the First Amendment in the US constitution. Moreover, the US’s tobacco manufacturing companies engage in the legal business, hence they do not deserve their efforts in achieving profitability to be watered down by the “Stop Smoking” movement.

References

Belluz, J. (2019). . Vox. Web.

Brennan, E., Gibson, L. A., Kybert-Momjian, A., Liu, J., & Hornik, R. C. (2017). Promising themes for antismoking campaigns targeting youth and young adults. Tobacco regulatory science, 3(1), 29-46. Web.

Ethan (2020). Vaporesso. Web.

Kim, M., Olson, S., Jordan, J. W., & Ling, P. M. (2020). . BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-12. Web.

Mendes, E. (2014). American Cancer Society. Web.

Reis, E. S., & Postolache, O. A. (2019). . Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, 24(12), 4727-4738. Web.

Smoking Prevalence in Bankstown, Australia

Introduction

The fundamental objective of the methods used in the current project was gathering first-hand empirical data on smoking prevalence in Bankstown, Australia. Therefore, field observation was selected as the primary research method. The regular field studies of smoking-related behaviors at train stations around Bankstown allowed for collecting relevant first-hand information. In addition, the research teams conducted short onsite interviews with the smokers to supplement the report with more accurate data. A. Khan et al. (2020) utilized a similar field notes method during the development of the “10,000 Lives” smoking cessation initiative in Queensland, Australia. The secondary objective of the project was to gather and analyze a sufficient amount of auxiliary scholarly sources on smoking cessation initiatives and smoking prevalence in Australia.

Inclusion/Exclusion of Data

Scholarly sources had to meet the following criteria to be included as auxiliary material:

  • Only peer-reviewed articles on the subject of smoking and smoking cessation in Australia were accepted;
  • The study area was limited to Australia, except for studies related to communications with stakeholders of smoking-cessation initiatives;
  • Studies on other addictions, such as alcohol and substance use, were excluded;
  • Studies in other languages than English were excluded from selection.

Information Sources

The primary objective of the project was accomplished via field observations and brief onsite interviews with smoking individuals. Scholarly sources appropriate for achieving the secondary objective were retrieved from CINAHL and Google Scholar databases. The search was based on combinations of the following words and terms: smoking, tobacco, vaping, smoking cessation, smoking cessation initiative, stakeholder communication, stakeholder engagement, Australia, and Bankstown. Reference lists of selected sources were additionally scanned for relevant articles.

Stakeholder Information and Summary

Internal Stakeholders

At this stage of the project, the internal stakeholder pool consists of two primary groups. Firstly, the project team includes students who share ideas for project development and improvement. Their contribution may lead to further development of the project from a health service placement report into a local-level smoking cessation initiative. Secondly, Western Sydney University can be considered another valuable internal stakeholder since its cooperation is necessary for the success of student field teams. Soyster and Fischer (2019) provided an example of stakeholder engagement via focus group activities. In this regard, field team members and Western Sydney University could further enhance cooperation to achieve effectiveness in stressful conditions.

External Stakeholders

The project is not currently dependent on the external stakeholders’ participation and engagement. However, it is possible to determine several external stakeholder groups and outline engagement methods in the case of future local-level smoking cessation initiatives. Most importantly, the project team might cooperate with the New South Wales (NSW) Government initiatives, such as NSW Quitline. For instance, the 10,000 Lives program in Queensland benefited from a partnership with Queensland Quitline, which facilitated smoke cessation in rural and remote communities (A. Khan et al., 2021). In addition, the project team might directly reach the NSW Aboriginal communities to tailor the potential smoking cessation initiative to their needs. For example, R. J. Khan et al. (2021) engaged Aboriginal stakeholders via a series of in-depth interviews about smoking habits in the community. Lastly, the external stakeholder pool might include academic organizations, which might assist with the future dissemination of data gathered throughout the project execution.

Results of Fieldwork Testing/Refining the Data Collection

The fieldwork of the project team allowed us to gather a substantial amount of information on smoking-related behaviors in Bankstown. In particular, the team managed to acquire the following data: age of the smokers, types of products used, including electronic vapes and tobacco packages such as boxes and roll-ons, and non-smoker behaviors in the area. This empirical evidence made it possible to create a picture of smoking prevalence in Bankstown. Furthermore, the survey made it possible to determine the potential pathways to smoking cessation in the local area. In particular, people who preferred vaping to cigarettes appeared less inclined to relapse into traditional smoking. This observation corresponds with the randomized controlled trials and population-based studies that confirmed the effectiveness of vaping in smoking cessation (Mendelsohn et al., 2020). In this regard, fieldwork resulted in a successful acquisition of baseline data on smoking in Bankstown.

Conclusion

Once the initial project goals are accomplished, the data collection can be further refined. In particular, the area of field teams’ operation can be expanded to cover more extensive parts of Bankstown. Additionally, field teams may start conducting more short onsite interviews in addition to observation. Furthermore, the project data collection process might utilize extra variables related to smoking and smoking cessation factors. Such variables might include but are not limited to self-perceived psychological distress, nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) use, and avoidance of others’ cigarette smoke (Chambers, 2022). Once the data collection process is refined and expanded, it will become possible to elaborate on the current smoking profile of Bankstown. Consequently, any potential efforts in local smoke cessation will become more targeted and stakeholder-oriented, which is crucial for future initiatives.

References

Chambers, M. S. (2022). Addiction, 1-10. Web.

Khan, A., Green, K., Khandaker, G., Lawler, S., & Gartner, C. (2020). Describing the inputs, activities and outputs of “10,000 Lives”, a coordinated regional smoking cessation initiative in Central Queensland, Australia. medRxiv, 1-24. Web.

Khan, A., Green, K., Khandaker, G., Lawler, S., & Gartner, C. (2021). BMJ Open, 11(3), e044649. Web.

Khan, R. J., Poder, N., Kovai, V., Robinson, L., Wright, D., Spinks, M., Heathcote, J., Millen, E., Welsh, K., & Bedford, K. (2021). Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 32(2), 264-273. Web.

Mendelsohn, C., Hall, W., & Borland, R. (2020). Could vaping help lower smoking rates in Australia? Drug and Alcohol Review, 39(4), 415-418. Web.

Soyster, P. D., & Fisher, A. J. (2019). PLoS One, 14(5), e0217150. Web.

Smoking Differentials Across Social Classes

Kaitanen (2010) sought to find out justifications for smoking with regard to the social status of the participants. The author analysed this through a qualitative study of fifty-five smokers. Subjects represented various social classes, and were asked to give an account of their behaviour. It was found that working class smokers were less likely to justify their habits than middle class smokers. Conversely, non manual workers had ample explanations for their habits. They differentiated themselves from other people’s smoking habits by affirming that their behaviour was controlled and only done for specific purposes.

The author formulated a relationship between smoking prevalence and justifications for smoking amongst various social classes. It is my position that she clearly achieved this aim through the deductions from the interviews. The author inferred her affirmations from the participant’s words and therefore came to the right conclusion; that low income workers had the least justification for smoking and therefore took on a passive approach to their smoking behavior. Manual workers did not contemplate about their smoking and thus continued to do it. This explains why more of them continue to smoke. On the other hand, upper class or middle class workers actively engaged with their habits. They carefully deliberated upon the positive and negative aspects of the habits and then went on to select their preferred behavior. This category of smokers had greater will power when it came to this habit.

Layte and Whelan (2008) seem to support the same premise by looking at a number of hypotheses for smoking differentials across social classes. In one of the hypotheses, they argue that differences in education about the risks associated with smoking are reflected by social inequalities. Consequently, if manual workers were more informed about the problems of smoking, then their smoking habits would reduce (Siahpush et al., 2006). This implies that fewer working class smokers actively engage in smoking decisions. Cavelaars et al (2000) also supported these findings. In the analysis, they asserted that smoking rates were higher in non educated groups than the educated ones. Other authors such as Reid et al. (2010), Cummins et al. (1981), Baha and Le Faou (2010), Menvielle et al. (2009), Landman (1973), Dorset and Marsh (1998), ASH (2004) and finally Gruer et. al (2009) also support these findings

Krieger et al. (1997) further explain that social class has a great influence on health inequities. It was affirmed that education had a large role to play in determination of a person’s social economic status. This may have implications on the findings made by Kaitanen (2011) because manual workers are less concerned hence less educated about health conditions (including health related habits like smoking). Barbeau et al. (2004) further support these findings by illustrating that marketers in the tobacco industry tend to target working class adults as a key demographic market.

Older adult males from lower social classes do not think of the smoking habit as a means of social capital thus causing them to exercise less control over it (Heines et al., 2009). Another way of understanding Kaitanen’s assertions is through the diffusion theory as explained by Ferrence (1996). The diffusion theory refers to the spread of ideas and behaviours amongst populations. Ideas take on an s-shaped curve and will usually start with the most privileged people in society to the lowest classes (this was the case with tobacco use). High status males are likely to have smoked the longest, so they are also likely to have been more informed about the ills of smoking. They are more educated about it, and will also be more likely to quit (Ference, 1996).

In the article, the author elucidated that having justifications for smoking was indicative of the degree of engagement in smoking by various classes of smokers. She supported these findings by collecting data from personal interviews, and found that low income smokers were passive about their reasons for smoking while non manual smokers were not. Consequently, the article illustrated that failure to weigh one’s reasons for smoking immensely contributed to maintenance of the habit. Similar assertions on awareness of the smoking process among middle class or upper class smokers further supports the affirmations made in the article under analysis. This has implications for health promotion and intervention: lower classes can be educated and exposed more to the dangers of tobacco use and this may cause them to quit the habit.

References

ASH (2004). Web.

Baha, M. & Le Faou, A. (2004). Smokers’ reasons for quitting in an anti-smoking social context. Public health,124(4), 225-231.

Barneau, E., Leavy Sperounis, A. & Balbach, E. (2004). Smoking, social class, and gender: what can public health learn from the tobacco industry about disparities in smoking? Tobacco control, 13(2), 115-120.

Cavelaars, J., Kust, J., Geurts, M., et. al (2000). Educational differences in smoking: International comparison, BMJ, 320, 1102-1107.

Cummings, R., Shaper, A., Walker, M. & Wale, C. (1981). Smoking and drinking by middle aged British men: effects of social class and town of residence. British medical journal, 283, 1497-1501.

Dorset, R. & Marsh, A. (1998). The health trap: poverty, smoking and lone parenthood. London: Policy studies institute.

Ferrence, R. (1996). Using diffusion theory in health promotion: the case of tobacco. Canadian journal of public health, 87(2), 24-27.

Gruer, L., Hart, L., Gordon, D., Watt, G. (2009). Effect of tobacco smoking on survival of men and women by social position: a 28 year cohort study. BMJ 3(3338), 480.

Haines, R., Poland, B. & Johnson, J. (2009). Becoming a real smoker: cultural capital in young women’s accounts of smoking and other substance use. Sociology of health and illness, 31(1), 66-80.

Kaitainen, A. (2010). Social class differences in the accounts of smoking-striving for distinction? Sociology of health and illness, 32(7), 1087-1101.

Krieger, N., Williams, D. & Moss, N. (1997). Measuring social class in US publish health research. Annual public health review, 18, 341-378.

Landman, A. (1973). Smoker psychology and socio economic status. Phillip Morris USA research centre, 7(73-080), 1-15.

Layte, R. & Whelan, C. (2009). Explaining social class inequalities in smoking: the role of education, self efficacy, and deprivation. European sociological review, 25(4), 399-410.

Menvielle, G., Kunst, A. & Boshuizen, H. (2009). The role of smoking and diet in explaining education inequalities in lung cancer incidence. National cancer institute, 101(5), 321-330.

Reid, J., Hammond, D., Boudreau, C. et al. (2010). Social economic disparities in quit intentions, quit attempts, and smoking abstinence among smokers in four westerns countries. Nicotine and tobacco research, 12(1), s20-s33.

Siahpush, M., McNeill, A., Hammond, D. & Fong, G. (2006). Socioeconomic and country variations in the knowledge of health risks of tobacco smoking and toxic constituents of smoke. Tobacco control, 15, 65-70.

Smoking: Benefits or Harms?

The problem of smoking in modern society is one of the most common problems. Hundreds of smokers every day are looking for a way to get rid of the noose, which is a yoke around the neck, a cigarette. People spend much money, time, and, above all, health to meet their smoking needs. Some people see smoking as a way to look “cooler” and more respectable; some want to join the “fashionable” company. Many people claim that smoking helps them cope with difficult situations, calms their nerves. However, these reasons do not justify this bad habit, and people should understand the harm that smoking causes.

Smokers themselves recognize the harmfulness of this activity but still do it. The famous writer Mark Twain said, “Quitting smoking is easy, I have done it hundreds of times” (Mark Twain Quotes, n.d.). Many studies have been conducted that recognize the terrible consequences of this activity. Tobacco use is one of the most common causes of premature deaths today (Britton, 2017). Tobacco contains many toxic substances, including nicotine, which in small doses excites nerve cells and reduces the oxygen content in the blood (Seo et al., 2017). It is easy to guess that such symptoms will have a terrible effect on a smoker’s health. Cancer in smokers occurs a lot more often than in non-smokers. The longer a person smokes, the more likely they are to die from a severe illness.

Increasingly, the question arises – why do people smoke, despite knowing the perniciousness of cigarettes? What makes a person buy another ill-fated pack again and again? It should be emphasized that smoking is not a natural need of the body like eating or sleeping. Smoking tobacco is also not a sign of a strong personality and an adult. Most people start smoking, usually in their teens. At this time, people want to experiment, and there is a need for self-affirmation, the desire to identify with the surrounding group, feel more adult, or protest against the attitudes of parents or society.

The causes of smoking arouse a strong interest in psychology, as doctors conclude that the basis of addiction is a psychological factor. The first factor is the image of a smoker formed in the media space. A cigarette is associated with freedom and a unique style, which creates a strong relationship in the minds, especially of young people, that a cigarette is attractive. Positive associations are also equally formed at the expense of cinema. In many films, the main characters resort to smoking, which in the viewer’s mind adds to their charisma, self-confidence, determination.

In addition to the fact that it is difficult to get rid of nicotine addiction due to physiological needs, several psychological reasons are why a person smokes. One of the main aspects is the inability of a person to establish communication with others. Smoking is a real salvation for those who do not know how or are shy to communicate with people. This process, in some way, liberates and creates a specific environment when people contact. However, it does not solve the main problem-constraint, which must be overcome without harm to health, because there are many psychological techniques and training created for this purpose.

Many people perceive a smoke break as an opportunity to break from professional or educational activities or get rid of accumulated stress. However, even though nicotine is indeed a psychostimulant substance, its effect is short-lived, after which brain activity, on the contrary, deteriorates (Johnston et al., 2018). Therefore, if people need a break from any activity or stimuli, they can go for a regular walk and get some fresh air, which is much more helpful than nicotine. That is why this reason, like many others, is just an excuse.

Today, there are no problems with the answer to the question of what to replace smoking cigarettes with. Everyone can find something suitable for themselves; some prefer the so-called safe cigarettes: electronic or nicotine-free; others prefer lollipops or candies. Mint-flavored candies are particularly effective – they reduce the desire to smoke, freshen a person’s breath, and contain less sugar. The popularity of sweets as a substitute for cigarettes is well-founded: they are not addictive and help cope with smoking.

When quitting smoking, a person should not think about what to replace a cigarette with but rethink the motives for quitting. If an honest answer to the question “Why I want to quit smoking” shows that the reason lies in anything but my aversion to smoking, then even with cigarette substitutes, quitting can be ineffective. Nevertheless, if there is a strong motivation, a high goal, for which it is worth parting with tobacco forever, then for everyone who decided to go this way to the end, there is a worthy replacement for a dangerous hobby.

Smoking is not just a bad habit, which people can quit instantly. Over time, a person who does not stop in time develops an addiction to nicotine. Therefore, people do not need to smoke, and it is even better not to start. If a person is concerned about saving health and considers life the highest good, they should throw out the pack immediately and not expose themselves to the harmful habit.

References

Johnston, R., Crowe, M., & Doma, K. (2018). Effect of nicotine on repeated bouts of anaerobic exercise in nicotine naïve individuals. European journal of applied physiology, 118(4), 681-689. Web.

Britton, J. (2017). Death, disease, and tobacco. The Lancet, 389(10082), 1861-1862.

Seo, S. B., Choe, E. S., Kim, K. S., & Shim, S. M. (2017). The effect of tobacco smoke exposure on the generation of reactive oxygen species and cellular membrane damage using co-culture model of blood brain barrier with astrocytes. Toxicology and industrial health, 33(6), 530-536.

(n.d.). Web.

Smoking in the Actuality

The article “E-cigarette Marketing and Older Smokers: Road to Renormalization” examines a major health challenge that has the potential to cause numerous challenges. The elderly have been observed to engage in smoking than ever before. These older smokers form a distinct sub-group whose needs should be addressed. The current use of aggressive marketing and advertising strategies has continued to support the smoking of e-cigarettes. As well, the number of cigarette users has increased significantly. The authors indicate that e-cigarette advertising continues to promote the use of both e-cigarettes and normal cigarettes (Cataldo, Peterson, Hunter, Wang, & Sheon, 2015). The study has also indicated that “the use of such e-cigarettes may contribute to the normalization of smoking” (Cataldo et al., 2015, p. 361). The article indicates that many elderly citizens started to smoke at a time when cigarette adverts were ubiquitous. These aggressive e-cigarette adverts might reduce the rate of smoking cessation among these older tobacco users. Older smokers have therefore been marginalized despite the fact that they are negatively impacted by tobacco-use (Cataldo et al., 2015). The authors therefore encourage the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undertake appropriate measures to deal with these health issues.

Type of Article

The article presents a qualitative research study. The authors used focus groups characterized by 8 to 9 respondents from the state of California (Cataldo et al., 2015). The group focused on the major issues surrounding the use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. This study approach made it easier for the researchers to come up with meaningful findings and conclusions.

Target Audience

The research article targets different audiences. The first group includes individuals who embrace the use of e-cigarettes. The report indicates that the current wave of e-cigarette advertising should be examined with caution. The article also targets the elderly because they have been ignored within the past few cigarettes. Researchers and public workers can also use this information to address the health problems associated with e-cigarettes (Cataldo et al., 2015). Legislators and agencies such as the FDA have also been targeted by the article. These audiences can undertake the best measures to ensure such e-cigarettes are regulated.

Readability

The presented article is readable and easy to understand. The authors have used an effective study approach and presentation. The sections of the article follow each other in a systematic manner (Cataldo et al., 2015). This approach makes it easier for the reader to understand the presented information.

Lessons Gained from the Article

I have also gained several lessons and ideas from this article. To begin with, the article has informed me about the major health challenges affecting many older smokers. These tobacco users have been ignored despite the fact that they are disadvantaged by the current wave of e-cigarette ads (Etter, 2013). The second lesson is that e-cigarettes might not result in smoking cessation. Such adverts encourage more people to use e-cigarettes. Experts believe strongly that the approach might eventually increase the number of smokers. The article also indicates that the current marketing strategies related to e-cigarettes might eventually result in smoking renormalization (Cataldo et al., 2015). Finally, the health risks and challenges associated with these ads explain why the FDA should impose appropriate regulatory measures (Cataldo et al., 2015).

Clinical Practice: Evidence Based

The information presented in this article is evidence-based. Before presenting their findings, the researchers have outlined the major issues associated with the e-cigarettes. The authors have also identified older smokers as a high-risk group that has been ignored for many decades (Cataldo et al., 2015). The article also outlines specific approaches that have been put in place to promote smoking cessation. The study focuses on the best strategies to ensure the health needs of the elderly are addressed.

This evidence-based information can therefore be used to influence clinical practice. Medical practitioners, public workers, and nurses can use these ideas to guide their elderly patients in different healthcare settings. New health promotion models can also be designed using the information to support many older smokers (Kalkhoran & Glantz, 2016). I will use the information to support the health needs of more smokers. Individuals “at risk of secondhand smoke will also be targeted” (Yerger & Malone, 2002, p. 341).

Future Research

After reading the article, I have observed that the current literature does not offer conclusive evidences regarding the effectiveness (and ineffectiveness) of e-cigarettes. Some experts have argued that such products are healthy and can result in smoking cessation. I will therefore undertake more studies in order to understand whether such e-cigarettes are healthy or not (Eldein, Mansour, & Mohamed, 2013). I will also analyze the environmental concerns associated with the e-liquids contained in such e-cigarettes.

Conclusion

This article focuses on the health needs of older smokers. The continued use of aggressive advertising strategies targeting different consumers might result in smoking renormalization (Cataldo et al., 2015). There is need for different agencies and medical practitioners to support the health needs of more citizens including the elderly (Rahman, Hann, Wilson, & Worrall-Carter, 2014). These measures will support the health challenges affecting many American citizens.

Reference List

Cataldo, J., Peterson, A., Hunter, M., Wang, J., & Sheon, N. (2015). E-cigarette marketing and older smokers: road to renormalization. American Journal of Health Behavior, 39(3), 361-371.

Eldein, H., Mansour, N., & Mohamed, S. (2013). Knowledge, attitude and practice of family physicians regarding smoking cessation counseling in family practice centers, Suez Canal University, Egypt. Journal of Family Medicine and Primacy Care, 2(2), 159-163.

Etter, J. (2013). The Electronic Cigarette: An Alternative to Tobacco. New York, NY: CreateSpace Publishing.

Kalkhoran, S., & Glantz, S. (2016). E-cigarettes and smoking cessation in real-world and clinical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 4(2), 116-128.

Rahman, M., Hann, N., Wilson, A., & Worrall-Carter, L. (2014). Electronic cigarettes: patterns of use, health effects, use in smoking cessation and regulatory issues. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 12(1), 1-9.

Yerger, B., & Malone, R. (2002). African American leadership groups: smoking with the enemy. Tobacco Control, 11(4), 336-345.

Alcohol and Smoking Abuse: Negative Physical and Mental Effects

In the current world alcohol and smoking have led to addictions in many young people which in turn cause a lot of long term psychological and physical complications. Addiction to alcohol or heavy alcohol drinking normally impinges on judgment, reaction and the way of thinking. Alcohol consumption also triggers risky behaviors that can cause harm. Among other things alcohol abuse is related to unprotected sex, the shutting of the nervous systems causing instant death, drunken driving causing bodily harm in accidents and death and a lot of other severe health effects.

Smoking on the other hand has its fair share of detrimental effects on individuals; this is evidenced by Grey (2002) who shows that:

Smoking causes addiction, constant coughing, bronchitis, asthma, damage to your lungs, smelly hair and clothes, yellow teeth and bad breath. And those are just the short term effects. The long term effects include cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes), lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema (a lung disease where a person has really hard time breathing), reproductive problems, and birth defects in kids (Grey, 2002).

Therefore this paper is going to focus on the negative physical and mental effects of long term alcohol abuse and smoking, show how the unhealthy lifestyles impact on people today and finally conclude by proposing a solution for curbing this situation.

High quantities of alcohol intake are interconnected with a high level risk of developing cardiovascular ailments, “malabsorption, chronic pancreatitis, liver disease and cancer. Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system damage can also occur from sustained consumption. Long-term use of alcohol in excessive quantities is capable of damaging nearly every organ and system in the body” (Lacoste, 2001). Lacoste also showed that “the developing adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of alcohol”.

Constant alcohol usage and abuse has severe impacts on physical and psychological health. The following is a range of effects of heavy alcohol intake as shown by Lacoste (2001), they include:

Neuropsychiatric or neurological impairment, cardiovascular, disease, liver disease, and neoplasm that is malevolent. The psychiatric disorders which are associated with alcoholism include major depression, dysthymia, mania, hypomania, panic disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, suicide, neurologic deficits (e.g. impairments of working memory, emotions, executive functions, visuospatial abilities gait and balance) and brain damage. Alcohol dependence is associated with hypertension, coronary heart disease, and ischemic stroke, cancer of the respiratory system, cancers of the digestive system, liver, breast, and ovary cancer. Heavy drinking is also associated with liver disease, such as cirrhosis (Lacoste, 2001).

Heavy intake of alcohol is seen to temper with normal brain development. Difficulties in information retrieval and visual performance were found in several studies carried out on people with a record of heavy alcohol consumption. “During adolescence for example critical stages of neurodevelopment occur. Binge drinking which is common among adolescents interferes with this important stage of development. Heavy alcohol consumption inhibits new brain cell development as well” (Taylor, 2005). Additionally heavy alcohol intake damages the development of the brain, these effects are caused by “brain shrinkage, dementia, physical dependence, increases neuropsychiatric and cognitive disorders responsible for distortion of the brain chemistry” (Lacoste, 2001).

Excessive drinking often leads to cardiomyopathy or “holiday heart syndrome.” This is supported by Sienkiewicz (2009), who shows that:

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is characterized in a manner clinically identical to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, involving hypertrophy of the musculature of the heart that can lead to a form of cardiac arrhythmia. These electrical anomalies, represented on an EKG, often vary in nature, but range from nominal changes of the PR, QRS, or QT intervals to paroxysmal episodes of ventricular tachycardia. The path physiology of alcoholic cardiomyopathy has not been firmly identified, but certain hypotheses cite an increased secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, increased sympathetic output, or a rise in the level of plasma free fatty acids as possible mechanisms.

Another effect evident in alcohol abusers is anemia originating from several causes; alcoholics are also diagnosed with thrombocytopenia from through megakaryocytic noxious effects.

Psychological effects associated with alcohol are evident in the occurrence of high depressive disorder in alcohol abusers. Recent studies have now certified that high alcohol consumption is directly responsible for the increase of depressive disorders in many alcoholics. Consequently alcohol abuse is responsible for a lot of psychological disorders with “alcohol abusers having a very high suicide rate. A study of people hospitalized for suicide attempts found that those who were alcoholics were 75 times more likely to go on and successfully commit suicide than non-alcoholic suicide attempters” (Gitlow, 2006). Again as shown by Lacoste (2001) “long term use of alcohol can lead to damage to the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system resulting in loss of sexual desire and impotence in men”.

Fetal alcohol syndrome which is an impairment characterized by lasting birth defects is also a common effect resulting from alcohol consumption in pregnant mothers, as alcohol consumption is in a way responsible for the damage to the fetus.

Smoking on the other hand has toxic effects on human beings. While smoking, it is the respiratory system that gets most affected, the toxins in smoke flowing in the lungs is a formula for adversity. Pneumonia and bronchitis of chronic nature are some of the many ailments brought about by smoking. Smoking also brings about emphysema, a devastating disease of the lungs that is very fatal.

Other effects of smoking arise due to the extra work done by the heart and vascular disease. Smoking is also responsible for triggering coronary disease that in turn activate heart attack. Many types of cancers are brought about by smoking, “lung, mouth, throat, stomach, bladder, cervix and more. Due to the reduced blood flow to the body’s extremities like the legs and feet, vascular disease in these areas can cause painful ulcers that are often impossible to cure” (Grey, 2002). “Frequent smoking has also been linked to panic attacks and panic disorders in young people.” (Hales, 2010)

Heavy drinking and smoking are some of the major causes of death that can be otherwise prevented. Research reveals that heavy drinking and smoking are responsible for one in every thirty four deaths in the world. The research also shows that six percent of disability cases are as a result alcohol intake.

Therefore as shown in this paper heavy drinking and smoking have no positive impacts on the community and should be shunned at all costs. Countries should put up policies to regulate these behaviors and ban drinking and smoking especially in people under 21 years. When this is done the impacts of alcohol consumption and smoking can be regulated.

References

  1. Gitlow, S. (2006). Alcohol abuse and suicide. Journal of the effects of alcohol 53 (7), 104-122.
  2. Grey, B. (2002). Detrimental effects of smoking. New York NY: Oxford University Press.
  3. Hales, D. (2010). An Invitation to Health. Belmont CA: Wadsworth publishers
  4. Lacoste, L. (2001). Risks of high alcohol consumptions. International journal on the risks of alcohol consumption 24 (2), 62-69.
  5. Sienkiewicz, B. (2009). Alcohol and cardiomyopathy. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.
  6. Taylor, B. (2005). Effects of alcohol consumption on brain development. Journal of the effects of alcohol 32 (1), 73-98.

A Peer Intervention Program to Reduce Smoking Rates Among LGBTQ

Abstract

Tobacco smoking in South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) produces a high number of deaths and illnesses. At the same time, a specific segment of the population smokes more often than others. That is, young lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people are at high risk for cancer, respiratory disease, and vascular disease. Thus, the project aims to decrease the number of smokers, further supporting maintaining their health. Accordingly, based on the research of the reasons for smoking and methods of influencing part of society, the project’s expected outcome is creating an adapted plan to reduce smoking.

Introduction

Investigations explain that smoking among peer lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) is higher than the average among the population. The reasons are biological, psychological, social, environmental risk factors. The project aims to create a smoking reduction plan in South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. Thus, the study of physiological and economic circumstances of smoking will create a holistic view of methods of resisting adolescent smoking. Therefore, the presumed results of the project are its introduction into the health care system, which will promote a healthy lifestyle and diminish the level of smoking among LGBTQ people in the SESLHD.

Problem Statement

It is known that there are differences in the vulnerabilities of individuals and groups, in their health beliefs, risks, and wellbeing outcomes. Right across communities, those with higher social status are healthier than those below them (Johns, et al., 2013). Groups that most likely experience inequities in health and wellbeing include: people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal people, disengaged, homeless, and especially LGBTQ.

The reason for that is numerous biological and psychological factors that motivate them to take actions that seem to reduce stress levels, such as smoking (Deacon & Mooney‐Somers, 2017) and (Comfort, 2012). These dissimilarities are unfair and have direct and tangible consequences for the body, so it is required to explore the possibility of reducing differences among specific population groups. That is why the topic of the project is Developing a peer intervention program to reduce smoking rates among LGBTQ people in South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.

Context

The project will be implemented among the LGBTQ community as in addition to everyday life difficulties, it experiences unique stressors. Due to their sexuality, they are daily oppressed, and such social pressure leads to mental and physical health problems (Greenhalgh, et al., 2020). According to recent researches of tobacco prevalence heterosexuals smoke half as much as LGBTQ people. ‘Almost one in four among the minorities smokes in comparison to one in six for heterosexuals’ (Poynten, 2015). They start smoking at an earlier age and with greater intensity. The reason for such indicators is primarily the emotions they feel, such as bad mood, loneliness, irritability. In order to reduce such negative indicators, it is essential to assess all biological and psychological factors that are the leading reason for smoking. Moreover, the project is essential because it aims to offer possible solutions to this problem and improve the level of health among this group of people.

Critical Review of Evidence

A systematic review of World Health Organization articles explains that diseases caused by smoking are one of the most significant state health threats the globe has ever suffered. At the same time, statistics show that specific categories of the population are more likely to smoke for several motives (The World Health Organization, n.d.). Therefore, the project is relevant as LGBTQ community is especially at risk. Australians Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW’s) Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) is the national data source that specifically disaggregates by sexual identity and provides comprehensive estimates (Australians institute of health and welfare, n.d.).

Survey results confirm that members of the rainbow communities face higher levels of smoking than their heterogeneous counterparts. Although, surveys from the 2019 NDSHS indicate that daily smoking among people who identify as homosexual or bisexual has steadily declined from 28% in 2010 to 16.0% in 2019. However, people who classify as homosexual or bisexual (16.7%) were still 1.5 times as likely to smoke daily as people who identify as heterosexual (10.8%) (Australians institute of health and welfare, n.d.). Grounds for the discrepancy between heterosexual and LGBT people are complex.

Nevertheless, the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey discovered that consumption of alcohol and smoking were experienced at higher rates, and internalized homophobia and responses to the exposure of orientation, unique to LGBTQ people, could be defining factors. It is also important to say that there are available statistics from SWASH (formerly the Sydney Women and Sexual Health survey), the study of LBQ women’s health initiated in 1996 and runs every two years since (Mooney-Somers, et al., 2018).

While it has consistently reported high levels of smoking, this comprehensive dataset has never been systematically analyzed to take measures and increase mental and physical health among the community in the District. This highlights the need for the project, which aims to reduce rates of smoking, increase awareness, access, and acceptability of existing interventions. It additionally concentrates on the factors of smoking for LGBTQ community members, involving minority pressure, contributes responses to separation, and strengthens the community’s ability to preserve those parts which end smoking.

During the project’s development, a research question was stated on reducing the statistics of smokers among the LGBTQ community in the SESLHD. After that, a strategy of exploring for information by keywords was applied, which enabled studying a particular group of society and a specific region (Davies, et al., 2020). The research results were articles that contained reports about the reasons for smoking among LGBTQs and the economic benefits that cigarette sellers received.

Moreover, it was possible to find information about different age categories of the population, which was provided to analyze data about peers. Information retrieval research methods have also offered a wealth of statistical knowledge (Praeger, et al., 2019). However, not many studies have focused on problem-solving methods. Therefore, authoritative sources were used to create the project, based on which approaches were introduced to reduce the number of smokers.

Investigations of smoking problems among LGBTQ people have shown that they subconsciously protect themselves from stress and discrimination. However, the primary motivation for the higher smoking rate among the minority is rejecting their identity, resulting in low self-esteem. Although the study reveals the main reasons, it does not explain how to improve the attitude of minorities in the community but only predicts the reduction of health (Greenhalgh, et al., 2020), (Deacon & Mooney‐Somers, 2017) and (Comfort, 2012). As for smoking rates in other regions, the sample only embraces the central areas of Australia, which does not provide complete information on different regions (Praeger, et al., 2019), (Davies, et al., 2020) and (Kreps, et al., 2014).

The foremost outcomes in the literature concerning the detection of cancer and HIV infection in the LGBT community are that statistically, they are more likely to be infected. However, since sexual identity is not entered in the patient’s medical paper, it is difficult to track in the patient register (Drysdale, et al., 2020) and (Poynten, 2015). Research has also been conducted on reducing smoking among young people (Berger & Mooney-Somers, 2017), (Office on Smoking, 2012) and (Hefler & Chapman, 2015). However, they applied to the United States or the whole of Australia. Therefore, it is not easy to assess the possibility of functioning of the developed project in the SESLHD.

The Solution

The main gap in the way in which the issue is addressed in the literature is the lack of information about the outcomes of this smoking disparity. They include inevitable cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and other burdens that naturally follow higher smoking rates. This drives the lack of tailored intervention for the LGBTQ communities in these health areas (Hefler & Chapman, 2015). There is also practically no research on the interventions specific to tobacco dependence treatment or prevention among LGBTQ populations, and the research literature is inconclusive.

The methodology used in the project is to apply an information approach that allows investigating the level of influence of external factors that create smoking among LGBTQ people. This approach also includes studying the social, economic, psychological, and biological effects of smoking among the community in SESLHD. Surveys and qualitative studies were also included if they were relevant to the study objectives (Kreps, et al., 2014). The statistical data is also analyzed to predict probable solutions to the problem and evaluate their effectiveness.

First of all, it is important to identify the most common causes of smoking among young people for the implementation of the plan. The project proposes to create courses for psychological support of the minority community, where professional psychologists will provide assistance. Concerning the prevention of already acquired diseases, the project intends to introduce available periodic examinations in the health care system (Office on Smoking, 2012). Thus, it will encourage minorities not to hide the acquired disease but to perform efforts for treatment.

The principal condition of the project is the desire among peers to start the fight against the dangerous habit. Therefore, it is possible to place an office with individual doctor consultations and free drugs, such as nicotine tablets and pills. Moreover, the smoking reduction plan proposes to create a sample of people who participated in the project and to assess their health in three months. Thus, it is an opportunity to examine the effectiveness of prevention and treatment. Accordingly, in order to implement the plan, stakeholders need to organize research and coordinate the provision of psychological assistance to minorities (Berger & Mooney-Somers, 2017).

At the same time, it is required to allocate funding for available treatment and encourage specialists to cooperate. The product for solving the problems is a completed application to the global human rights education and training center. That is, the idea of the project is to gather information about the problem and prepare solutions. Thus, applying will be the first step to reduce the reasons for smoking by preparing training programs.

Expected Outcomes

First of all, outcomes include the protection of LGBTQ communities from the dangers of smoking and changing community norms around tobacco use. After implementing the project, it is expected to raise awareness, increase knowledge and improve access to smoking cessation services. Moreover, the new methods and recommendations that will consider the specifics of LGBTQ in Sydney will be developed. Tobacco prevention and smoking cessation measures targeted to specific communities effectively reduce smoking-related health disparities. Some gains have been made in specific venues, but smoking rates are still high, and that is why further work is needed.

Lessons Learned

The effectiveness of the project can be affected by various factors, beginning with its perception among the heterosexual population and the LGBTQ community in SESLHD. However, in order to conduct full-scale health programs to prevent cancer and other diseases, it is essential to accurately assess current statistics. As mentioned earlier, patients’ medical records do not provide information about their sexual orientation (Drysdale, et al., 2020).

Therefore, the lack of initial information about the health of the LGBQ community needs to be addressed through people surveys. Accordingly, it is possible that the examination participants will agree to become the first patients of the program and critically evaluate its effectiveness. Ways to address the limitations of the project can be public initiatives that will inform the citizens about the significance of the problem. At the same time, such a measure will assist to find sponsorship for the practical implementation of the plan.

Conclusion

The report highlights the leading causes of smoking among LGBTQ people in the District. The background information is described, and a deep analysis of information concerning this subject is carried out. Moreover, the disparity in smoking prevalence among LGBTQ young people compared to their non-LGBTQ peers is given, and effective intervention strategies for this population are provided. Specific solutions tailored to the interests of the LGBTQ groups are needed to successfully engage community members in advocating for policy change to reduce the rates of tobacco use and promote long-term health.

References

Australian Institute of health and welfare (n.d.). Web.

Berger, I., & Mooney-Somers, J. (2017). Smoking cessation programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people: A content-based systematic review. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 19(12), 1408-1417.

Comfort, J. A. (2012). Understanding the higher rates of smoking among lesbian and bisexual women [Doctoral dissertation, Curtin University]. Curtin University.

Davies, M., Moon, G., & Lewis, N. M. (2020). Trends in smoking prevalence over time and space: A comparison between sexual minority and heterosexual populations. Health & Place, 65, 102421.

Deacon, R. M., & Mooney‐Somers, J. (2017). Smoking prevalence among lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Sydney remains high: analysis of trends and correlates. Drug and alcohol review, 36(4), 546-554.

Drysdale, K., Cama, E., Botfield, J., Bear, B., Cerio, R., & Newman, C. E. (2020). . Health & Social Care in the Community, 1-16. Web.

Greenhalgh, E.M., Scollo, M.M., & Winstanley, M.H. (2020).Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria.

Hefler, M., & Chapman, S. (2015). Disadvantaged youth and smoking in mature tobacco control contexts: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research. Tobacco control, 24(5), 429-435.

Johns, M. M., Pingel, E. S., Youatt, E. J., Soler, J. H., McClelland, S. I., & Bauermeister, J. A. (2013). LGBT community, social network characteristics, and smoking behaviors in young sexual minority women. American Journal of Community Psychology, 52(1-2), 141-154.

Kreps, G. L., Peterkin, A. D., Willes, K., Allen, M., Manning, J., Ross, K., & Moltz, R. (2014). Health Care Disparities and the LGBT Population. Lexington Books.

Mooney-Somers, J., Deacon, R.M, Scott, P., Price, K., & Parkhill, N. (2018). Women in contact with the Sydney LGBTQ communities: Report of the SWASH Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Women’s Health Survey 2014, 2016, 2018 Sydney.Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney.

Poynten, I. (2015). Current Policy and Research on Cancer in LGBT Communities Internationally. In U. Boehmer & R. Elk (Eds.), Cancer and the LGBT Community (pp. 293-311). Springer.

Praeger, R., Roxburgh, A., Passey, M., & Mooney-Somers, J. (2019). The prevalence and factors associated with smoking among lesbian and bisexual women: Analysis of the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey. International Journal of Drug Policy, 70, 54-60.

The World Health Organization (n.d.). Web.

United States. Public Health Service. Office of the Surgeon General, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention, & Health Promotion (US). Office on Smoking. (2012). Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: a report of the surgeon general. US Government Printing Office.

Appendix A

Peer Education Program: Smoking Rates in LGBTQ community

To design, plan, facilitate and successfully implement an intervention, a peer education program is required. The program would focus on the sociological and demographic reasons behind the increased smoking rates among the target group. It would furthermore address the risks associated with such rates and the way they overlap with the consequences of marginalization experienced by LGBTQ people in other spheres of life. This knowledge would be further supported by the introduction of appropriate methods of addiction prevention and addiction management to the target demographic.

Since the research problem is focused on the smoking rates among specifically LGBT youth, the impact of the peer influence could be considered even higher than normally for such initiatives. As an overall marginalized community, LGBT people’s predisposition to display greater levels of trust to those who also belong to this group is even higher. Despite the fact that young people who identify as trans, queer, or a sexual minority have much higher rates of smoking than young people who identify as cisgender with a heterosexual orientation, very few treatments have been created and assessed for the LGBTQ+ population.

The main goal of this study was to get LGBTQ+ young people involved in identifying essential components of tobacco use prevention and cessation treatments for their group. This paper examines the components of tobacco prevention and cessation interventions that may influence tobacco uptake, use, and, ultimately, support behavior change in LGBTQ+.

When it comes to conveying health promotion messages, peer-led approaches have a lot to offer. According to available studies, there is a link between peer influence and young smoking habits. There are also opportunities for the peer supporter to develop as a person (i.e. increased knowledge, communication skills, confidence and self-esteem). Peer educators can also engage in a less formal manner than teacher-led, classroom-based programs because they are generally of the same age. Peer-led health promotion is also more acceptable and trustworthy among young people, according to evidence.

The program utilizes the supportive and transformational elements of the active social network. The inadequate assessment of social network interventions’ application to health behavior modification interventions has been criticized, implying that little is known about their health-promoting qualities. The program is an example of a network intervention based on champions that has been extensively assessed and is based on diffusion theory.

Opinion leaders (‘peer supporters’) are discovered in this product using a process known as ‘peer nomination,’ in which the whole school year fills out a questionnaire to identify important students who are then invited to become peer supporters. Peer supporters are taught how to discuss the dangers of smoking and the advantages of quitting in ordinary discussions with their peers, using language and concepts that they believe would resonate with the individuals they are speaking with. The curriculum consists of seven sessions provided by professional trainers over a 14-week period.

In terms of the peer education classification, the program is to follow the combination of the outreach model and the formal model. The outreach model relies on reaching out to the target demographic in places and settings where they are the most comfortable. The formal model involves structured arrangements, such as a tutor or a selected peer supporter working with a group on a timetable basis. The combinatory approach could help in reducing the risks of the program operating as a formal and restrictive initiative, while at the same time keeping it focused and effective.

A peer education program, whether administered or staffed by professionals or volunteers, requires a framework to function properly. A person or group should be in charge of coordinating and administering the program, as well as overseeing or doing the following tasks:

  • Enlisting the help of peer educators and students;
  • Creating, improving, and delivering tutoring programs Matching students with suitable peer educators or programs;
  • Scheduling;
  • Managing peer educators;
  • Managing conflicts amongst peer educators, students, supervisors, and the program as a whole;
  • Evaluation and continuous improvement of the recordkeeping program.

A communication system is also required for the program, so that peer educators and learners can be readily notified about special events, cancellations, and scheduling, among other things. It requires a spokesman who can be trusted to speak on behalf of the program, often without the benefit of consulting others (for example, in a crisis). It also requires someone to contact and report to donors if it is financed by any official sources — public money, foundations, etc. The existence, or lack thereof, of a coordinating structure can have a significant impact on the success or failure of a peer education program.

Program Structure

Orientation and Training

Orientation, which helps individuals understand the program and its challenges, can be seen as the start of the training, but it can also be used as an introduction to assist potential peer educators determine whether or not they want to participate. An orientation might take place before the start of training, or even before a training is scheduled, to enable individuals to determine whether or not they want to be tutors. The following are some topics you might wish to discuss during orientation:

Peer education training is designed to educate peer educators to work effectively with students. It should be lengthy enough, both in terms of total training hours and total training time, to provide educators with not just the background and expertise they require, but also time to process and assimilate the information and concepts given. A training group’s size should be small enough for everyone to get individual attention, yet large enough for good discussion and role-playing possibilities. A group of eight to 10 people is typically good, with 15 being roughly the maximum size.

Supervision and Support

Continuous monitoring, like training, is essential for a successful peer education program. Each peer educator within the program will be assigned with a more experienced supervisor: the coordinator, a paid or volunteer staff member, a more experienced peer educator, or if appropriate and in a mutual arrangement, another peer educator with similar experience. Peer educators require continual assistance in addition to monitoring. The supervisor can give some of this in the form of guidance, encouragement, problem-solving assistance, and so on. Peer educators should, in the ideal world, have regular chances to meet with one another, with or without a supervisor, to address shared difficulties and concerns. The sense of shared experience and peer support, as well as the knowledge that others are having similar problems at work, may be a huge help to everyone involved.

Program Evaluation

A peer education program, like any other, must be able to analyze what it is doing, identify how effectively it is functioning, improve or rework those elements of the program that aren’t working, and adapt to meet the changing needs of the target audience. In order to analyze itself, a program must decide what to look at – what information it will collect, how it will interpret it once it has it – and how to look at it – how it will obtain that information. The most appropriate scenario for this research subject is focused on the peer satisfaction evaluation with the workshops and the discussion sessions provided.

Summary and Conclusion

Overall, the efficacy of smoking cessation treatments was higher among LGBT individuals than in the overall population. In programs for stopping drugs other than cigarettes, LGBT individuals frequently do as well as or better than non-LGBT ones. This observation is important as it occurs in spite of the predisposition to addiction mentioned in the main body of the project. This could be because people looking for population-specific programs have put more thought into the smoking cessation process than people who are recruited into general population interventions, or it could be because participants feel an automatic sense of commonality, reinforcement of existing social circles, direct applicability to one’s life, or even that people looking for population-specific programs have put more thought into the smoking cessation process than people who are recruited into general population interventions.

The key elements of a well-designed program may operate as KPIs and are as follows:

  • Involvement of the community in the program’s conception and implementation.
  • A strong sense of purpose and knowledge of the target demographic.
  • A coordinating framework that ensures that the program runs smoothly.
  • Recruitment of peer educators and students that takes into consideration their cultures, needs, and concerns.
  • A well-planned peer education training procedure that matches the program’s philosophy, methodology, and objectives.
  • Peer educators have access to ongoing supervision, support, and in-service training.
  • Volunteer and learner personnel policies that spell out expectations, rights, and responsibilities.
  • A structure for program assessment and improvement, as well as a regular timetable.

Smoking and Drinking: Age Factor in the US

Introduction

It is realized that in the United States that smoking, drinking and use of drugs all increased substantially with age. In addition girls were more likely than boys to smoke, whereas boys were more likely than girls to smoke and drink at an earlier age. Smoking and drinking were highly interrelated among population below the age of 18 years in the U.S. this group of people who drank were more likely to be regular smokers, for instance research found out that 33%of the pupils who usually drank every week were regular smokers, whereas only 1% of the pupils who had never had a drink were regular smokers. (Goddard and Higgins, 2000)

As smoking and drinking behavior were both strongly related to age, it could be the case that the observed relationship is due to the fact that older pupils were more likely to smoke and drink than younger pupils in the U.S. However, among 15 year olds, those who smoked were more likely than non-smokers to drink at least once a week (67% and 20% respectively).

At age 11, 69% of the pupils in the U.S neither drank nor had ever smoked but by age 15 the equivalent percentage was 11%. Less than 1% of 11 year olds smoked regularly and drank at least weekly; whereas 16% of pupils aged 15 did (Patton and Hibbert, 2000).

Smoking and drinking among 15 year old population in the U.S

Defining drinkers as being those who usually drink at least once a week results in more pupils being defined as drinkers than are defined as regular smokers. Six percent of 15 year old boys and 7% of 15 year old girls were regular smokers, drank at least twice a week and had taken drugs in the last month. I contrast, 59% of 15 year old boys and 63% of 15 year old girls did not fall into any of these groups. (Patton and Hibbert, 2000)

Age Factor and Drinking

The United States is a nation of binge drinkers, with hazardous drinking particularly common in young adults. Researchers found that more than two-thirds (67%) of alcohol consumed is drunk in a way that is dangerous to health – by the population of the young adults drinking more than 5 days a week. This hazardous drinking was particularly common in the 18-24 years age group. Drinking that would cause acute or chronic health problems accounted for 93% of all alcohol drunk by men in that age group, and for 82% of young women. By comparison, 41% of alcohol consumed by those aged 65 or over would cause acute or chronic health problems. (Grant and Stinson, 2001)

Alcohol Consumption among Women of Child Bearing Age

Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome and other congenital anomalies. Substantial prenatal alcohol use can occur before a woman knows she is pregnant, and teratogenic risk increases if she continues to drink during pregnancy. Characterization of alcohol consumption patterns among women of childbearing age (i.e., age 18-44 years) can help identify the magnitude of this problem. (Little and Graham, 1982).

Drinking age

Research has realized that there is way too much underage drinking by young adults in America. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1986 forces states to enforce the legal age of 21 years old or lose matching highway funds. Alcohol has been around since the beginning of time and it is not going to disappear. Today, most young adults start drinking early in their high school years at social gatherings. During those years, they endure many changes in their lives. They think that if they do not drink like their fellow peers, they will not fit in. what they do not know is that their body is still growing and alcohol can lead to many complication early in life.

In many cultures drinking as a young adult is not frowned upon, one is encouraged to have alcohol in moderation. If drinking alcohol were looked at as being a social act and not as something to do every weekend when one was bored then there would be fewer problems with underage drinking. (Grant and Stinson, 2001)

It is realized that alcohol drinking could have very bad effects on the young adults of America. There could be many people who would abuse a situation where in most household, parents do not approve of drinking among their children. Rather, they approve of these children to drink responsibly if they are going to drink. Enforcing the legal age of drinking to be 18 years old would lead to the maturity factor and being responsible. The contradicting fact is that alcoholism is a disease. Some people might assume that there would be more alcoholics if this situation of drinking responsibly in many household takes effect. (Goddard and Higgins, 2000)

Smoking Among Women of Child Bearing Age

There are many effects that cigarette smoking by pregnant women has on their fetuses. The relationship between maternal smoking and fetal development shows that smoking can induce spontaneous abortion, affect birth weight, and bring about fetal malformation (Tin Stockwell, 2002).

Underage Smoking

Psychological, or cognitive, reasons for smoking still play a significant role in the initiation of smoking, as a health risk behavior, and models of health behavior. Smoking mostly starts in childhood, fewer starting after the age of nineteen or twenty. Many children try their first cigarette in primary school and motivating factors range from the desire to appear more grown-up, or the wish for adult status, adolescent rebelliousness and striving for proper group status. Older groups of smokers gave different reasons for smoking, such as the reduction of tension, novel experience, curiosity, peer orientation and personality inferiority (Patton and Hibbert, 2000).

In the United States it was found that there is a strong relationship between people’s self-esteem and their future smoking behavior. Girls between ages ten to fifteen with low self-esteem in any given school year were around three times more likely to start smoking than girls at the same age with high self-esteem. (Patton and Hibbert, 2000)

Conclusion

Smoking and alcohol drinking were common and clustered among adolescents of a rapid developing country hence the need for early and integrated prevention programs. In addition to the increased risk of chronic diseases at an older age, smoking and alcohol drinking in adolescent s are associated with more immediate health hazards such as depression, interpersonal violence, motor vehicle crashes and drowning, risky sexual behaviors and suicidal behavior. (Tin Stockwell, 2002)

Behavior initiated during adolescence tends to track into adulthood. Early experience with smoking and alcohol drinking increases the risk of subsequent tobacco and alcohol dependencies. Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for clinical cardiovascular disease and may also be associated with poorer cognitive functioning in older ages for the general population aged over 50 years who smoke regularly (Gera, 1991).

Age at initiation of smoking was a significant factor for continuation of smoking. Men who started smoking before 16 years of age had an odds ratio of 2.1 for not quitting smoking compared to those who started at a later age. These findings emphasize the need for a prevention program targeted to children below 16 years of age (Goddard E and Higgins V, 2000).

Reference

Goddard E and Higgins V (2000): Drug use, smoking among young teenagers.

Tin Stockwell (2002): Medical Journal of USA.

Little R.E and Graham J.M (1982): Fetal alcohol effects in humans and animals.

Gera D (1991): The effect of prenatal alcohol use on growth of children.

Grant B.F and Stinson (2001): Age at onset of alcohol use.

Patton G.C and Hibbert M (2000): Patterns of common drug use in teenagers.

Smoking as a Community Issue: The Influence of Smoking

The tobacco problem is one of the most significant challenges in health care because it kills many people, 8 million in precise, around the globe yearly (CDC, 2020). World Health Organization posts about 7 million fatalities as a result of direct tobacco consumption, while 1.2 million deaths result from passive smoking to second-hand smoke (CDC, 2020). Cigarette smoking is one of the lifestyle behaviors related to the risk of cardiovascular disorders (CVD). A review of the literature shows the use of tobacco declined between 1980 and 2012, but the number of people using tobacco in the world is increasing because of the rise in the global population (CDC, 2020). Therefore, tobacco use remains stubbornly high around the globe, particularly among the low- and mid-income countries with limited capacity to mitigate the diverse tobacco-associated diseases.

Smoking in the USA remains a common phenomenon, and as early as the 1930s, the American Cancer Society issued warnings to smokers (Pampel et al., 2020). Since then, the country has played a significant role in implementing evidence-based interventions and policies to reduce the use of tobacco. Despite the government and the public health sector implementing different policies, the economic burden of smoking is significantly high. The effects are more significant in low and middle-income states where there are limited resources to tackle the problem.

The community in question is the Hispanic population in the United States, and in Laredo, Texas, in particular. Hispanics are the largest minority group in the United States, as according to national statistics, they were more than 58 million, forming a population of more than 18%. Hispanics are densely presented in Laredo, Texas, with nearly 95% of the total population. Smoking has been a concern for this population as nearly 3.9 million Hispanic adults in the United States are smokers, which is 11% of the 34.2 million smokers (Babb et al., 2020). Therefore, it is important to develop programs and initiatives that target Hispanic smokers and help them quit.

Some of the most important health improvement needs of the community are associated with adverse health effects of smoking. As such, these are at high risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and lung disease, chronic breathing problems. With this in mind, healthcare practitioners have come up with various strategies for curbing their menace. It is therefore vital for strategies to be put in place to sensitization of individuals on how to cope with the vice and avoid relapsing once they have quit smoking. Reducing the risk of negative health effects is directly associated with the prevention of smoking among adolescence, promotion of healthy behavior, and programs for quitting smoking.

One of the effective strategies can be aiming at core values of the Hispanic community, such as family. As such, smoking is considered one of the significant barriers that prevent women from breastfeeding their children for the required six months. It makes the women desist from weaning their babies while at the same time passing the nicotine to the babies through breast milk. Smoking lowers the mother’s appetite and the chances of mothers becoming healthy for their babies. Besides, the chances of relapse by such mothers are high, with the majority of smokers being the less financially endowed, single ladies, as well as African Americans (Joseph, Emery, Bogen, & Levine, 2017). Encouragement of women to cease smoking by informing them of the risks involved and the importance of breastfeeding to their babies have proven to be successful in curbing the menace.

The application of group-based therapy assists nurses in the analysis of the external dispositions of smoke addicts. Through observation, they get the chance to internalize what drives their actions and emotions. Continuous scrutiny of group behaviors comes in handy in enabling nurses to employ various behavioral, social, and self-control skills to manage the addicts. In such cases, the behavior of individuals is manipulated by isolating them from the group. Apart from that, exposing them to mood management whereby their emotions are monitored after being stoppage of smoking by the nurses (Khanijahani, 2017). Nurses also come in handy as far as sensitization, training, and counseling of the addicts is concerned. Hence, the described strategy is a treatment model.

Besides the treatment programs aimed at stopping smoking in the Hispanic populations in the United States. As smoking usually starts at an early age as adolescents, and teenagers who start smoking usually continue their vice in adulthood. Hence, the stop-smoking campaign “truth” aimed at preventing smoking in adolescents via TV and other media messages. During the existence of the program, the number of smoking teens reduced by nearly three times (Khanijahani, 2020). On the contrary, the “truth” did not have a community-specific message, which lessened the effectiveness of the program among the Hispanic population.

Nurses assist in setting a conducive atmosphere, which enables the addicts to discuss and share ideas and feelings. This is done during the counseling process within a given time frame. Apart from that, the provision of information through emails acts as strategies for enabling addicts to cease smoke (Khanijahani, 2020). The process also allows them to know and appreciate the risks that are involved in smoking.

References

Babb S, Malarcher A, Asman K, Johns M, Caraballo R, & VanFrank B, (2020). . Prev Chronic Dis 2020; 17:190279.

Joseph, H. M., Emery, R. L., Bogen, D. L., & Levine, M. D. (2017). Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 19(5), 652-655.

Khanijahani, A. (2020). Governance and public health: implications for targeting smoking in the United States. International Journal of Health Governance, 25(2), 151-159.

n.a. (2020) CDC.gov.

Pampel, F., Khlat, M., Bricard, D., & Legleye, S. (2020). Smoking among immigrant groups in the United States: prevalence, education gradients, and male-to-female ratios. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 22(4), 532-538.