CASE STUDY: SMOKING AND ADOLESCENTS
Introduction
Cigarette smoking among teens has become very rampant in the United States of America. This article aims to explore the extent of smoking and possible interventions to reduce the effect of smoking among youths. Below is a chart showing various interventions used in combating smoking of tobacco among the youths, their rating, and classification as either motivational, educative obligational, or innovative.
Potential interventions
Classification
Rating
Expulsion of cigarette smokers from school
Motivation
3
Labels warning adolescents against tobacco
Education
2
Selective uses of nicotine patches
Innovation
1
Eliminating smokers from co-curriculum activities
Motivation
4
Fines for adolescents who cheat on their age to be allowed to buy drugs
Obligation
5
Imposing high taxes in tobacco
Obligation
5
Rewards to school with a low rate of tobacco use
Motivation
5
High insurance premium for tobacco users
Obligation
5
Reducing nicotine quantity in tobacco to reduce addiction
Innovation
4
Disallowing athletes who use tobacco to take part in races
Motivation
4
Provision of canceling services to tobacco users
Education
3
(Riegelman & Kirkwood, 2019)
Rewards to school with the low rate of tobacco use, fines for adolescents who cheat on their age to be allowed to buy drugs, imposing high taxes in tobacco, and high insurance premium for tobacco users are likely to be successful interventions since they oblige the users to part with extra money (Hilton, 2000). Reducing nicotine quantity in tobacco to reduce addiction, disallowing athletes who use tobacco to take part in races, and eliminating smokers from co-curriculum activities are tagged with index four because the initiative is taken by the government. They are therefore likely to yield positive results. Provision of cancelling services to tobacco users and expulsion of cigarette smokers from school have successful rate of index three because it is upon the adolescent victim to take the initiative. Labels warning adolescents against tobacco and selective uses of nicotine patches are rated two and one respectively since they have the least success probability. They don’t offer any incentive to the adolescents (Hilton, 2000).
In order to control the rampant use of tobacco in my city as a mayor, I would contract the CDC’s National Tobacco Control program (NTCP), which is the only nationwide program working, in all the 50 states of USA. The NTCP will be instrumental for tribal organizations to control tobacco use among the youths comprehensively (Hilton, 2000). This program will also help the children quit smoke, reduce second hand exposure to tobacco and to reduce the disparity that currently exists in tobacco use. The funding of the program will be done through OSH funds. Pacific Partners for Tobacco Free Lands also works to help broaden the youth understands of health issues pertaining to tobacco. Apart from youth, the program focuses on vulnerable persons, poverty stricken and marginalized areas. Local partnership that is deemed appropriate for control of tobacco use among the young people is the American Lung Association, which works in schools that are found in south West Virginia. It supports tobacco free schools through regional office. American Lung Association brings to the mayor the program that strives to ensure that there is no more used of tobacco in schools (Hilton, 2000).
Behavioral counseling intervention is one of the primary interventions useful in combating tobacco use among the youth. In this intervention, there is communication between the counselor and the victim or a group of affected youths. The counselor may use face to face communication, which has proved to be very effective in the past. In case face to face communication is impossible, there might be direct communication through phone call or even Skype (Riegelman & Kirkwood, 2019). This method applies behavior economics as the counselor is expected to apply cognitive, psychological and emotional factors during interaction. In secondary prevention of smocking include regular tests and examination to ensure that the infections discovered at early stage. In case of any early detection, very low doses of medicine and proper diet can be sufficient to prevent heart attack. Rehabilitation is one of the greatest tertiary interventions to combat smocking. It occurs when the victim has already experienced adverse effects that need extraordinary reaction (Hilton, 2000).
All the interventions mentioned above, that is, Behavioral counseling intervention, regular tests and examination, and Rehabilitation have successfully followed P.E.R.I.E process (Riegelman & Kirkwood, 2019). In all, the problem is identified as the child smokes cigarette and its etiological causes and subsequences identified. These causes may include peer influence poor parenting skills, failure to accomplish a certain task and boredom (Hilton, 2000). After establishing the causative agency of the problem, the researchers are axle to draw recommendations. Recommendations will depend on the level of severity or destructions caused to the body so far. Implementation of the program follows recommendations immediately as the child is taken to rehabilitation center, given a counselor or still, put under regular check to eliminate infection. Evaluation is important as it gives a feedback on whether the implemented program is feasible (Riegelman & Kirkwood, 2019).
“Tobacco is also a drug; it works slowly like a slag. You won’t even feel a bug but it is making you an ignorant mug then welcome rug. Cancer will greet you with a warm hug. Your death bed is being dug, so stop tobacco now. Don’t ignore and shrug.” (Hilton, 2000).
References
Hilton, M. (2000). Smoking in British Popular Culture; Manchester university press: London.
Riegelman, R and Kirkwood, B. (2019). Public Health 101 Improving Community Heath, (3rd Ed). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.