Introduction
Tobacco use continues to be a significant public health concern, and authorities are constantly searching for ways to mitigate its negative consequences. One of the recent solutions that has been adopted is to raise the legal age for buying tobacco goods. This follows the enactment of the federal law raising the tobacco age to 21 nationally in December 2019. The purpose of this essay is to thoroughly assess the probable consequences of enacting such a regulation and its impact on the nursing profession.
Policy Evaluation
The majority of adult smokers start engaging in the vice between the ages of 18 and 21. This raises concern, given that the tobacco companies commonly target this age group. The policy has led to a notable decline in tobacco use among young adults. The law has helped prevent young people from ever starting to smoke, leading to a decline in the number of deaths, diseases, and health care costs caused by tobacco use.
The policy targeted a population of all youth aged 18 to 21 years and impacted about 60 million people (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2020). This is a significant number as it aims to reduce tobacco use initiation among young individuals and protect public health by addressing the impact of tobacco-related illnesses and addiction in the younger population. The sources of data that were used to conduct the healthcare program/policy evaluation included data from federal organizations. The data can be collected from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association.
The benefit of the policy is to prevent or delay the onset of smoking, potentially leading to better long-term health outcomes and a lower prevalence of smoking-related illnesses among the younger population. The American Cancer Society (2012) indicates that the federal government can achieve cost savings for healthcare spending on treating illnesses caused by tobacco use and death.
The unintended consequence of this policy could be an increase in the use of alternative tobacco and nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes or vaping devices, among those affected by the age restriction (Milstead & Short, 2019). If left unregulated, the alternative products can lead to other healthcare complications.
Stakeholders who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program/policy evaluation include adolescents and young adults (18-20 years old), older adults, retailers and vendors, health care providers, public health authorities, policymakers, and the general public (American Heart Association, 2015). Healthcare providers, public health authorities, and policymakers would benefit the most, as they will use the findings to enhance their policy frameworks.
The policy has been successful due to a significant reduction in the number of adolescents and young adults who start smoking. There has been a reduction in deaths caused by smoking and an improvement in the health of young adults and adolescents. Due to the successes achieved by the policy, I would advocate for implementing a similar policy in my community.
I would seek a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to finance advocacy efforts through collaboration with the healthcare institution to collect relevant data (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2016). The approach also involves stakeholder feedback and surveys to gather feedback on the program’s effectiveness and any issues that may have arisen.
The enactment of the federal policy of raising the legal age to purchase tobacco has led to a notable impact in reducing the potential for young adults to engage in the vice. The government has realized immense cost savings on attending to patients dying due to conditions caused by tobacco use addiction and death.
Conclusion
Raising the legal age to buy tobacco to 21 at the federal level in the US has proven beneficial, successfully promoting public health and reducing tobacco use among young adults. The policy has helped to curb addiction and potential health risks associated with smoking. While further research may be needed to fully assess the long-term impact of this policy, initial evidence suggests that it has contributed positively to safeguarding the well-being of the younger population and fostering a healthier society.
References
American Cancer Society (2012). Smokeless tobacco.
American Heart Association (2015). Building a Tobacco-Free Nation.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (2016). Who we are.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (2020). Raising the Tobacco Age to 21.
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.