Custom term paper on Smoking is a public health challenge

Realizing all the harm of this habit, let’s think about how to quit smoking. You can start by reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke a day, if you smoke a lot (pack or more a day). But it’s not the best way. It better to say no to cigarettes once and forever, just stop smoking. There are a lot of inventions that can help you to give up smoking. The most common way is to replace tobacco using nicotine containing tools. These are nicotine patches, chewing gum, inhalers. The mechanism of action is the same: they provide your body access to nicotine, thus protecting from the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. So stimulating effect of nicotine on the cardiovascular system stays, but the body is no longer poisoned by other tobacco smoke toxins. These tools can be used for a long time, until craving for cigarettes is not gone.
There are also some alternative methods of quitting smoking, such as acupuncture and hypnosis. Success rate of them, according to a reference check, is 30%.
What are the main measures by which developed countries try to get rid of smoking? First of all, it is a complete ban on advertising tobacco products and smoking propaganda. Of special note are a package of economic measures on smokers. In many companies non-smoking employees are paid monthly premiums. Indeed, the smoker periodically breaks away from work to take regular doses of nicotine, ie his productivity decreases. For lower productivity – less pay. This method was found to be the most effective. Another measure is a ban on smoking in public places, including just outside. The logic is very simple: the smoke is harmful not only for the smoker himself but for others too.
Until recently, the main struggle with smoking was carried out only by the aid to the victims because of the use of tobacco smoke and to a lesser extent, information propaganda about the dangers of tobacco smoke. Only February 27, 2005 the Framework Convention of the World Health Organization on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) starts to work. It restricts and regulates the international standards in areas such as increasing prices and taxes on tobacco, tobacco advertising, sponsorship, labeling, illicit trade and second-hand smoke, and others (Fritschler, pp. 17-26). custom term paper
Together with increasing of the global significance of anti-smoking, a sense of responsibility for their health is increasing in people. Many companies and organizations are on the path of getting rid of the smoking epidemic.
In all states of the USA there is a struggle with smoking, in every state various restrictions on smoking are implemented. In the State of New York smoking in public places and official vehicles is forbidden. Fine for breaking this law comes to $ 1000. In Illinois it is allowed to smoke only in private homes and apartments, private cars and in some hotels where there are special rooms for smokers. California has the most severe laws against smoking. The ban operates on smoking inside or within 1.5 m distance from any public office, the law started working in 1993, and recently a distance has been expanded to six meters. Smoking is also prohibited in restaurants, bars and enclosed workplaces, on the beach all over the country. Laws against smoking, caused a strong debate in the U.S. Some bar owners said that their business would suffer from these laws and smokers asserted that their rights were violated (Brandt, pp. 35-46).
USA is not the only country that tries to take this problem under the control. For example, Germany from September 1, 2007 imposed a ban on smoking in all public institutions and in all types of public transport including taxis. Breaking this law will coast you from € 25 to € 250. In addition, the age limit for buying cigarettes was raised from 16 to 18 years.
In the UK smoking is banned in all pubs, restaurants, clubs, and in most organizations, except private apartments, prisons and hotel rooms. Fine is about 2500 pounds (Gilman, pp. 11-16).
Together with starting new strict banns on smoking we shouldn’t forget that smoking is a very difficult addiction to get rid of. Mark Twain once said: “if it is forbidden to smoke in heaven, I don’t want there.” To my mind more attention should be paid to not beginning smoking, especially among young people. What I want to say by this, is that it’s easier to prevent than to cure.
References:

Brandt A.M. The cigarette century: the rise, fall, and deadly persistence of the product that defined America. 2009.
Fritschler A.L., Rudder C.E. Smoking and Politics: Bureaucracy Centered Policymaking (6th Edition). 2006.
Gilman S.L., Zun X. Smoke: a global history of smoking. 2004.
Haustein K., Groneberg D. Tobacco or Health?: Physiological and Social Damages Caused by Tobacco Smoking. 2009.
Jacobson P.D., Warner K.E., Lantz P.M., Wasserman J. Combating teen smoking: research and policy strategies. 2001.
Sloan F.A., Ostermann J., Conover C., Taylor D.H. The price of smoking. 2006.