Smoking cessation strategies and interventions

Smoking Cessation

One recommends a number of ways in which to stop smoking or preventing it as much as possible. A number of steps are worth mentioning. First, a person needs to have accountability in the matter. This means that he or she has family and friends who are interested in making sure that the person wants to stop their horrendous act that is harming their body. When this occurs, he or she is more likely to want to follow through on their commitment and to remain smoke-free for years to come (Jorenby, et al., 2008).

Before this can occur, one needs to have the intrinsic motivation to quit smoking. This means making sure that he or she will stick with the commitment to go with it, rather than giving into peer pressure when around family and friends who do it on a regular basis. Through making this level of effort, everyone around him or her will notice, and will do everything possible to make sure that their goals are achieved. In the end, as long as he or she is held accountable along with much motivation, he or she will become a success in one's endeavors (Jorenby, et al., 2008).

Many economic and social costs of public health interventions and strategies are worth mentioning, especially with policies to address this disease. In regards to this, those in the health care field need to lobby to those who in Congress to make more laws on smoking to help get others to quit. This means making sure that companies that sell these products are fined at least $1,000 for shortening their customers' life spans because of it. Furthermore, they are held accountable themselves. They may change their actions through this entire process of people from all over the United States trying to get others to quit smoking. However, much will occur when it comes to the cost of it. In fact, tax payers may end up paying more to put an end to it, such as having to deal with higher taxes around the nation. This would occur for a brief time, and for not a plethora of years. Regardless, individuals are thankful for the results because they are no longer exposed to second-hand smoke and are able to enjoy life to the fullest (DiClemente, Prochaska, Fairhurst, Velicer, Velasquez, & Rossi, 1991).

The current costs of the efforts that have occurred are worth mentioning. For example, the government has issued horrendous pictures to people in which to try and get them to stop smoking. While this may work for some, overall it will not help because the habit is already formed. Currently, they increase the price of tobacco for consumers, but in reality it makes perfect sense to get rid of the business altogether because people would not die sooner than expected; consequently, family members are able to live longer and the ability to make a difference in the world that is full of corrupt individuals who want to take over the world (DiClemente, Prochaska, Fairhurst, Velicer, Velasquez, & Rossi, 1991).

One needs to note ways in which current disease control or prevention efforts have impacted various groups. For example, men die sooner than women if they smoked for many years; however, both sexes will age sooner if they do smoke. This makes a person's skin sag sooner than expected because of how a person loses cells in their body to generate good. Furthermore, minorities risk having a shorter life-span because of the additional stress and living in poorer neighborhoods due to gang activity and drugs, including that of smoking. Regardless, one is able to make sure that they do not take part in smoking or risking have heart disease and many others that can make matters worse. If a person has a disease or gains one in the process of smoking, then he or she is most likely to either become apathetic or to continue to the habit despite all the warning labels provided. People do not care, if they want to do this, then they continuously will no matter what others think of them about their nasty habit (DiClemente, Prochaska, Fairhurst, Velicer, Velasquez, & Rossi, 1991).

Many cultural practices have since then occurred because of the smoking issue. In fact, in many states in America, no longer are people allowed to actually smoke at work. This is now banned. Because of these efforts, many people were disgruntled because they were allowed to do this in the beginning, and now this is no longer plausible. What will happen now if a person is caught is worth mentioning. A person risks having to take a drug test from their employer with the possibility of losing their position with the company, if one is caught; however, organizations will face having a huge fine for allowing this to happen, especially if the health department randomly shows up for an inspection for that particular day. This could help or hurt a business because of this new law, which has now become a cultural norm in the United States (Glassma, et al., 1990).

Another is that people like to either smoke in their homes or outside them depending on the individual or couple. Many prefer this as a means in which to prevent their house having much soot in their walls and floors that is difficult to get rid of because of how embedded it is with their furniture. On the other hand, person who smoke outside do this for respect of their property, so that anyone who wants to come and visit their house does not have to smell the tobacco in everything that inside where one lives. Many view this as a means of respecting their property and other individuals who do not smoke (Glassma, et al., 1990).

Since no-smoking has occurred in the businesses, bars and clubs used to not care if their customers smoked or drank alcohol; however, now this is not the case. In fact, people are not even allowed to smoke at these locations. Consumers who go to these places to have the time of their life are upset that this freedom was taken from them. The same is true with the owners of the organization because they are more likely to lose money and have to designate smoking area outside the building in order to comply with the laws as well as risk not losing money in this process. Ultimately, people are hindered in their efforts to smoke, which helps others who do not do this terrible act. Regardless, this is now a norm that many the public has had to adapt to because of how drastic it was on everyone who did not want to adhere to the standards set forth by governing authorities. Ultimately, the choice is up to each individual involved, and how much one is willing to pay for the consequences that go with each action because people are affected in the end (Williamson, J, RF, JC, GA, & T., 1991).

One has to consider potential obstacles for enacting this plan for smoking cessation for adults in the United States. Some areas are worth considering. These include the fact that people in organizations fail to communicate to each other on a regular basis; when it comes to health related issues that go with smoking (Williamson, J, RF, JC, GA, & T., 1991). In fact, many deal with other diseases, but will put smoking as the lowest priority possible, unless they are fined for anyone who is caught disobeying the law. All of the businesses may become apathetic and not build relationships with one another to lobby to Congress in the U.S. (Silagy & Lancaster T, 2007). This means that they are hurting their workers as well as any of their consumers through this entire process; consequently, those in management may quit or get terminated for not wanting to work with others in this effort to put an end to smoking. Eventually, other firms will notice as well as the media, and all of this could backfire on them in the future. When word gets out, they may not have the necessary preparations in place in order to make this possible to put an end to all the commotion that was started by those who could not comply with various laws that were enacted or to make new ones with those in government (Williamson, et al., 1991).

People may not have the funds to go to the government by making the necessary trips and to lobby with those in a government position. This could limit anyone who wants to make a difference in the community or in their own state. However, they are able to ask those in government for grants to help in this effort by conducting their own studies in this process but with limited funds. Regardless, money is the issue in making this proposal occurs because of the current state of the economy, and the lack of jobs that are present for everyone who is seeking one at this particular time. The competition is tough all the way around, and companies are tight financially in making ends meet for all employees that are trying to help others survive around the globe (Peto, Darby, Deo, Silcocks, Whitley, & Doll, 2000).

Public health priorities are an issue that could arise at any given time in trying to get adults to stop smoking. For example, if an emergency occurs with someone who has received a gunshot wound, then they are less likely to pay attention to the details of smoking until the person is well again through much medical attention. Additionally, if he or she is focused on the vital organs at that time, and the person is in a comma, then it is possible that death is inevitable because of doctors and nurses not able to find out about smoking in one's past before this tragic event; although, a miracle could take place if caught in time from a family member or friend of someone who has this particular history (Peto, Darby, Deo, Silcocks, Whitley, & Doll, 2000). In the end, their efforts are meaningless because the person was dying to begin with due to all the harm that was caused for the years of smoking and the wound that killed him or her almost instantaneously (Peto, et al., 2000).

Another issue is when an epidemic arises, and people need oxygen to survive, along with care around the clock. For example, the worse strain of the swine flu occurs, and there is nothing to stop this issue. People are dying in every city and currently no cure exists at that particular time. All medical personnel can do is make the person as comfortable as possible. This can hinder any effort to deal with smoking because people are trying to overcome a deadly virus that will end up affecting the entire world if it is not stopped immediately (Peto, et al., 2000).

Those that are medical personnel would consider this a higher priority than by means of actually trying to deal with smoking and trying to stop it. Primarily, the reason is because people are focused on the emergency more so than that of stopping smoking worldwide or within the U.S. itself (Peto, Darby, Deo, Silcocks, Whitley, & Doll, 2000). These individuals are trying to meet their needs first, which is understandable; however, the smaller issues will continue to arise when medical staff least expect it, such as when a surgical procedure is needed for him or her because of influenza (Silagy & Lancaster T, 2007).

Many cultural issues are worth considering. Those that are minorities, such as black, Hispanic and so forth are likely to not want to adhere to this proposal because of the possibility of not wanting to stop their habit (Prochaska, DiClemente, Velicer, & Rossi, 1993). Many of them are in gangs and are non-religious individuals that are involved in this type of activity (Jorenby, et al., 2008). They will care about themselves more than that of those who are white and religious. In fact, their prejudices may get in the way, and blame the dominant race for their issues of getting involved with smoking in the first place (Prochaska, DiClemente, Velicer, & Rossi, 1993). These will hinder any effort in making sure that people are open to the idea of it. With these particular groups of people, they are going to become intolerant to it because it has become a part of their life, and as a means in which to make it as easy as possible for them. Many may actually require that the government pay them for all their hardship because of the fact that they brought their ancestors to America by making them slaves (Jorenby, et al., 2008). Regardless, this could hinder efforts in making it easier for anyone who is interested in putting an end to smoking among adults in order that they live longer (Silagy & Lancaster T, 2007).

Those in other countries may have no use for this smoking cessation because they consider it a part of their culture. Everyone is encouraged to smoke as well as drink, and to please their gods through this entire process. Any outsider would have to learn these quickly or risk getting shunned from the community. People would have to comply, but they would not obey what other governments have put into place because it does not apply to them in that part of the world itself (Peto, Darby, Deo, Silcocks, Whitley, & Doll, 2000). Many individuals who enacted this would become either offended or tolerant because of it due to the fact that this part of globe is more collectivist that the U.S. (Williamson, J, RF, JC, GA, & T., 1991). These are areas worth considering when it comes to preventing any kind of additional diseases, but to keep in mind limitations as well (Kottke, RN, GH, & ML., 1988).

Many obstacles to my potential strategy are worth overcoming. Since the brand new policy is to add extra taxes on smoking and fining the smoking companies for their actions, then one is able to make sure that people comply or go out of business. A way to overcome the challenges is to have someone from each company represented in Congress (Kottke, RN, GH, & ML., 1988). This may mean making sure that there is someone in government that is passionate about this issue, and willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that people do comply with the new law. Through this effort, fewer mistakes are made, and people are getting what they need done to make it happen by having someone speak on their behalf. Any gender can do this regardless of background (Kottke, et al., 1988).

For example, medical people are more thorough with this matter because they are required to ask the patient of smoking in the past before doing anything with him or her surgically or when an emergency arises. Because of this effort, people will live longer due to extra steps taken on behalf of the patients in the hospitals from each of the medical staff that is present to take care of them at the time (Kottke, et al., 1988).