Introduction
The tobacco industry is worth billions of dollars in annual profits made from the sale of cigarettes. This industry promotes the smoking of cigarettes by millions of individuals in countries all over the world. While most people enjoy smoking, this habit has many harmful effects that outweigh any perceived merits. Tobacco smoking is the number one cause of preventable deaths in most nations across the globe. The United Press International (2010) reports that, “more than 440,000 U.S. residents die annually from cigarette smoking” (p.1).
Smoking not only affects the smoker but also the people around him who are forced to inhale the polluted air. The CDC (2013) reveals that secondhand smokers incur adverse health conditions and even death because of the exposure. In addition to the negative health consequences associated with tobacco use, smoking leads to loss in productivity by an individual costing the economy billions of dollars annually.
The CDC (2002) further notes that smoking leads to a loss of money for citizens as they use thousands of dollars each year to sustain their habit. Considering the significant negative impact that smoking has on the society, measures should be taken to address the problem. Policies should be implemented to ensure that people are dissuaded from smoking.
If measures are not taken, the deaths and disease burden of smoking-related illness will continue to be prevalent in the society. Even more troubling, more young people will take up this damaging habit. The financial cost of smoking will also continue to be felt by the society.
Solutions
To solve the problem, I would impose laws that restrict adults from smoking in the presence of children. Specifically, parents would be prevented from smoking at home when their children are present. A report by Wang and Phil (2011) reveals that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home are likely to engage in smoking themselves in future. Making smoking in the presence of children illegal would therefore have the desirable effect of preventing most children from taking up smoking in the future.
The community should engage in preventative programs to reduce smoking prevalence. Smoking remains to be a major problem due to the significant percentage of new smokers each year. Such programs would especially be effective to the youth who are thinking of picking up smoking.
Lovato (2012) states that “teenagers are likely to start smoking due to peer influence while at school” (p.363). With effective preventative programs targeted at such groups, the number of new smokers will remain low ensuring that the problem of smoking is mitigated. The National Cancer Institute (2013) suggests that greater investments should be made in efforts to assist individuals to quit smoking. A large percentage of smokers attempt to quit the habit at some point.
Reid et al. (2012) reveal that most of the smokers who are successful in their quitting attempts get some form of assistance from health care providers and community workers. To fund these solutions, the government can increase the taxation on tobacco companies. Such an action will not only provide the necessary finances but also increase the price of cigarettes therefore reducing consumption due to high prices.
Case Study: Canada
One developed nation where the impacts of smoking are felt is Canada. CBPP (2013) reports that in Canada, 16.7% of the population smoke with the daily smokers, who consume an average of 13 cigarette sticks a day, being 13.1%. The highest percentage of smokers were found among the young adults aged between 20 and 24.
The Lung Association (2013) documents that approximately 37,000 Canadians die from smoking related conditions annually making tobacco a major killer in the country. In addition to this, the disease increases the risk for various forms of cancer, leukemia, and coronary problems. The CDC (2002) asserts that smoking “produces substantial health-related economic costs to society” (p.1).
In recognition of the problems that tobacco causes in the country, The Canadian government has taken steps to reduce smoking in the country. Reid et al. (2012) note that the government has engaged in aggressive campaigns to promote awareness of the adverse effects of smoking. CBC News (2010) reveals that the government has “forced cigarette manufacturers to carry picture-based warnings” (p.1).
These efforts have led to a marked decline in revenues for the industry as sales in the country have dropped. In spite of this drop, reports by CBC News (2010) indicate that “nearly one-fifth of Canadians call themselves smokers” (p.1). This indicates that the smoking problem is far from solved in the country. Better solutions will have to be implemented to ensure that the problem of smoking is mitigated and eventually eradicated from the society.
References
CBC News. (2010). Statistical look at cigarettes and Canadian smokers. Web.
CBPP. (2013). Tobacco Control. Web.
CDC (2002). Annual Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Economic Costs – United States, 1995-1999. Web.
CDC (2013). Tobacco: Fast Facts. Web.
Lovato, C. (2012). School and Community Predictors of Smoking: A Longitudinal Study of Canadian High Schools. American Journal of Public Health, 103(2), 362-368.
National Cancer Institute (2013). Cigarette Smoking: Health Risks and How to Quit. Web.
Reid J. L., Hammond, D., Burkhalter, R., & Ahmed, R. (2012). Tobacco Use in Canada: Patterns and Trends, 2012 Edition. Web.
The Lung Association. (2013). Smoking and Tobacco: Facts about smoking. Web.
United Press International (2010). CDC: U.S. smoking kills 440,000 a year. Web.
Wang, P., & Phil, M. (2011). Parental Smoking, Exposure to Secondhand Smoke at Home, and Smoking Initiation Among Young Children. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 13(9), 827–832.