Government funding for smoking cessation programs in the United States

¶ … smoking of cigarettes is a huge problem throughout our society. The leading causes of preventable death are caused by smoking.

The purpose of this discussion is to explain why smoking cessation programs should be sponsored by the government. We will attempt to understand why the smoking habit is so difficult to conquer.

In addition, we will discuss the cessation programs that already exist and the ways in which they benefit smokers. We will also explain why many smokers cannot afford a cessation program and need government assistance.

Quitting Smoking

Many smokers began smoking as teenagers. The epidemic of teen smoking has existed for a long time in the United States. According to an article found in the Washington Times cigarettes are easy to buy but it is difficult to stop smoking for teenagers. The article asserts, "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35% of high school students are smokers, meaning they smoked at least one cigarette in the 30 days before the survey. In 1991, 27.5% of students smoked."(Dean)

The teens featured in this article admit that there is a great deal of peer pressure associated with smoking. In addition, the nicotine found in smoke is highly addictive and it is the main reason why it is so difficult for teens and adults to quit once they have a habit. The article goes on to explain that through the Centers for Disease Control the government has spent a great deal of money attempting to keep teenagers from ever developing this habit.

Cessation Programs and Government Sponsorship

Several tactics are used to aid people in the cessation of smoking. These tactics include patches, gum, gold turkey, counseling and even hypnotism. The patches and the gum are designed to provide the smoker with doses of nicotine throughout the day, which keep them form wanting to smoke cigarettes. Cold turkey method is simply the act of quitting with no assistance; it is based on willpower. Counseling attempts to get to the root of the problem and helps the smoker to replace cigarettes with a healthier habit. Finally, hypnotism has become a popular way to help smokers quit. All of these methods with the exception of cold turkey can be rather expensive.

A book entitled Helping the Hard-Core Smoker: a Clinician's Guide explains that while some are able to stop smoking on their own, many will need clinical help in kicking the habit. The author explains that those that need the most help are usually hard-core smokers. (Covey) the book explains that for some smoking is just a habit but for others it is an addiction. The book asserts that habitual smokers usually use cigarettes to calm their anxieties or smoke in social situations. (Covey) on the other hand, those that are addicted continue to smoke even when they have been diagnosed with a serious medical condition caused by smoking. (Covey) in addition, hard-core users are usually defined as those that smoke more than 20 cigarettes in one day. (Covey) Another group of hardcore smokers "are those with comorbid psychological or psychiatric conditions, which are associated with increased risks of becoming addicted to, and difficulties in cessation from, cigarette smoking." (Covey)

These hard-core users could benefit most from cessation programs but are the least likely to afford them. This is where government sponsored cessation programs become necessary. The book explains that the Public health system had created some lofty goals for the cessation of smoking. (Covey) Setting goals is important but sponsoring such goals is even more important. According to the book "Approximately 80% of smokers express a desire to quit smoking and a substantial number have attempted to quit. In addition to the consumer-induced demand, increasing yet still insufficient numbers of clinicians and provider organizations are referring patients to cessation services or developing their own cessation programs." (Covey)

The scarcity of such programs and the cost association with participating in these programs is all the more reason why government sponsored programs are essential. The book also explains that many health insurance plans do not cover smoking cessation programs. (Covey)

This places more of the financial burden on the addict and makes it more difficult to quit. Some government sponsored cessation programs exist. In addition, there have been bills that encourage government sponsored cessation programs. (Center for Tobacco Cessation) One such bill is the MCH Tobacco Cessation Promotion Act of 2000. (Center for Tobacco Cessation) This bill was designed to add smoking cessation coverage for those using Medicare, Medicaid, and maternal and child health services. (Center for Tobacco Cessation)

In addition, the government has sponsored an initiative entitled "Smoke Free." This initiative is also sponsored by various government agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for disease control and prevention and the National Cancer Institute. (You Can Quit Smoking Now) This initiative provides smokers with the tools that they need to quit smoking. It provides them with the resources that are available in the area of the country that they live in. (You Can Quit Smoking Now)

In addition, it provides smokers with 24-hour hotlines and free online help. (You Can Quit Smoking Now)