Unquestionably, there is a problem in the US Army with drafting and implementing strong tobacco policies at the local level. Currently, US Army installations draft polices that do not comply with federal law and Department of Defense (DoD) regulations. There is a lack of consistency and enforcement in tobacco policies across commands (Jahnke et al., 2011). The Department of Defense has an opportunity to standardize a strong tobacco free policy that can be implemented at the local level to combat the rate of tobacco use for overall health and physical readiness within the force.
Presently, in the Army 17% of Soldiers were classified as not medically ready for deployment and 32% of Soldiers reported tobacco use (Bell et al., 2015). The prevalence of tobacco use in the military and especially in the US Army is an enormous health care burden. Unfortunately, tobacco use in the military is pervasive and current federal law for tobacco in federal workplaces (Executive Order 13058) and DoD regulations (AR 600-63) are not being implemented or enforced. Tobacco use still continues to be a cultural norm even though Soldiers are required to meet physical health standards (medical readiness). Prevalence of cardiovascular disease/COPD is high within the U.S. Army population and can be linked to tobacco use.
…show more content…
Tobacco free medical campuses and hospitals have become a common practice, since 2009, 45% of US hospitals have adopted a smoke-free campus policy (Williams et al., 2009). The current climate, cost, and impact within the workforce population is ideal for establishing a benchmark for reducing the rates of tobacco use across the entire US Army population. The policy would reach a much larger target audience to include veterans who visit the medical facilities on
The American College Health Association recommends that colleges and universities "Develop a strongly worded tobacco policy that reflects the best practices in tobacco prevention, cessation, and control.” More and more colleges need to push the Tobacco free
In the United States, smoking cigarettes is the number one preventable cause of morbidity and death (Bergen, 1999), and accounts for $300 Billion in health care costs and economic productivity loss (Jamal, 2015). While the national smoking rate is 16.8% (CDC, 2016), specific demographics are more susceptible to developing smoking habits: people who live below the poverty line (10.9% higher), disabled or with a limitation (6.2% higher), and males (4.7% higher) (Agaku, 2014).
Smokeless tobacco is presented as an alternative to smoking cigarettes, although smokeless tobacco has some benefits over smoking cigarettes, it also causes harm to the user. There are different forms of smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco that come in the forms of as Plug/Twist, Verb Use (consider revising). Snuff another form of smokeless tobacco composed of grounded tobacco leaves requires you to place it between the gums and cheeks, then spit out the juices or swallow if you please. The newest version called snus, in which you place them between the gum/cheek, but you do not have to spit out juices. Smokeless tobacco should not be used as a harm reduction strategy because it still causes health problems for the user such as oral
One of my first memories in the United States was taking a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) class. I was in sixth grade and a top student, as talking about drugs and alcohol and the way they affect us was fascinating to me. This is why, the following year, I volunteered to become a peer educator in Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U). For a couple of years, I gave presentations to young students which included facts, demonstrations, and games, to spread the knowledge that tobacco is harmful and that staying away from smoking prolongs life expectancy and increases the quality of life. It should come as no surprise, then, that I consider myself a big proponent of staying tobacco-free and encouraging others to quit smoking as a great way to promote health. I remember watching my mom and sister as they took part in their nightly ritual of smoking a few cigarettes to unwind. “Did you know that a main component of cigarettes is used as rocket fuel?” I would ask them, as I opened the window and they stared back at me blankly. “We know, we know” was the answer every time. I knew that convincing them to quit was no easy task, but I was committed. Day after day, I proudly stated a new fact about the evils of smoking. Finally one day, they quit. At first, they attributed it to the cost. Since we had just immigrated to the United States, the cost of cigarettes was simply not something they could afford. I didn’t believe it. I proudly
Psychology is defined as the study of the human mind and mental status in order to predict and also explain aspects of human behaviour. In regards to the behaviour concerning addiction, tobacco use is considered the most highly used (and abused) legal substance nationwide. It also has the highest leading risk factors causing considerable rates in morbidity and mortality and several types of cancer, respiratory disease and heart disease; relating to why promoting behavioural change (through aspects of psychology) is considered so imperative in today 's healthcare environment. In addition, the health promotion source that this essay will be examining is the National Tobacco Campaign, aimed at altering smoking behaviours, plus the associated advertisement strategies used, and lastly the psychological theories associated.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) Tobacco control state highlights, 2010. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Office on Smoking and Health. Retrieved for http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/state_hihlights/2010/pdfs/highlights2010.pdf
Tobacco use; despite efforts to curb it, have remained unsatisfactory high. The ACA aims to improve this by making smoking cessation programs affordable or free in health care policies; by funding local communities sponsoring outreach programs aimed at at-risk populations, and media campaigns graphically illustrating the dangers tobacco use [3].
Winning the war against cigarettes. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from American Cancer Society: http:www.cancer.org
CVS is the first the first national pharmacy chain store to ban tobacco and focus on the health and well-being of its patients and customers (Drell, 2014). This is a nationwide initiative, however, it doesn’t immediate solve the problem, but it is a step in the right direction. In light of CVS’s removal of all tobacco products from its shelves, the drugstore chain plans to offer its customers robust smoking cessation programs (Drell, 2014). The target public is the heavy tobacco users—the age range differs but it includes both men and women.
In calculating the economic influence of smoke-free policies and laws, the Surgeon General considered their constructive effect in decreasing health care costs. Utilizing a simulation prototype, the Surgeon General concluded, if all U.S. workplaces implemented an all-inclusive smoke-free policy, it would result in 1.3 million smokers renouncing, 950 million less cigarette packs being smoked, 1,540 heart attacks and 360 strokes being prevented, and $49 million passive medical cost savings being attained within the first year.” The costs saved would increase over time. (American for nonsmoker’s rights,
For analyses examining type of separation, we further excluded Reserve and National Guard personnel (n=1,658) due to the lack of separation data. Table 4 shows smoking prevalence, unadjusted, and adjusted odds ratios of smoking among
The current Coast Guard Enlisted Employee Review (EER) and future Enlisted Evaluation System (EES) does not have accountability to members that use tobacco products. The Surgeon General of the United States has determined that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness, disability, and death in the United States, ref (a). The Coast Guard Health Promotion Manual states, “Tobacco products generate physiological changes and cause significant health risks.” In 2015 about 15 of every 100 U.S. adults aged 18 years or older (15.1%) smoked cigarettes, according the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC). Consequently, 15 percent of our workforce is involved with a know substance that is detrimental to their health, yet the
ad initiative and Department of Defense goal for tobacco-free installations by year 2020. The short-term im-
An estimated 36.5 million or 15.1 % of adults aged 18 years old and older currently smoke cigarettes and more than 16,000,000 have smoking or live with diseases that are related to smoking. According to US department of health and human services, over the past five decades, there is a significant decline in cigarette smoking in the U.S. The progress has slowed in recent years and the prevalence of use of other tobacco products such as vapes, e-cigars and smokeless tobacco
Tobacco has been around for many years, and it should be stopped, but can the economy handle it. The tobacco is reaching young children, and not to mention the nonsmokers as well. The medical effects alone should convince people to stop smoking. Even if the people wanted to quit, it's hard because they are already addicted. If the health doesn't stop people from smoking the cost should because this year the tax on tobacco has gone up dramatically. So now the cost is weakening our pockets. The only ones that win in the tobacco field are the Tobacco Company, because they make all the money. If profits fall, all they have to do is advertise a little harder and profits will roll