1. Introduction
In recent years, smoking among the youth has garnered much attention in the academic and scientific discourse. Research and evidence show that majority of the smoking population begin smoking before reaching adulthood, implying the necessity of early onset prevention in limiting its widespread incidence. This desire to reduce the supply and demand of cigarettes is motivated by the health hazards and threats to social welfare that the habit inflicts, which can fundamentally impede economic welfare.
1.1 Consequences and Incidence of Smoking With regards to smoking behaviors, health is of primary concern. Studies show that persistent smoking can lead to the impairment of nearly every body organ and can make the smoker susceptible …show more content…
Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). Figures show that at least a billion individuals in the world engage in smoking, which qualifies it as a global concern (World Health Organization, 2016). In the Philippines, the prevalence of smoking addiction persists as an issue. The country, next to Indonesia, is the second largest cigarette consumer in the South East Asian region with around 17.3 million adults who smoke (The Manila Times, 2015). In addition, approximately ten Filipinos die every hour due to illnesses directly and indirectly caused by smoking, which is proportionate to 87,600 deaths per annum (World Health Organization Western Pacific Region, 2009; Valente, …show more content…
Critics of the cigarette industry are already suspecting that cigarette corporations have been shifting its target market to focus mainly on the youth, especially in lower and middle income regions such as the Philippines (The Manila Times, 2015). John Britton from the University of Nottingham’s UK Center for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies was quoted saying that the tobacco industry thrives from capitalizing on the youth’s susceptibility to risk-behavior engagement (Presse, 2017). Evidently, the extent of the problem is already quite drastic, as one in four Filipino children, aged thirteen to fifteen, were reported to have been smokers (The Manila Times, 2015). Aside from the threats to health, smoking addiction also poses mental risks to the youth through emotional or psychological distress and reduced learning capabilities. Moreover, smoking increases deviant behavior in school, as the act is forbidden in educational institutions (Glewwe et al. 2010). Given all of these, among various demographic groups, the youth are of primary concern when it comes to controlling smoking
In recent years, smoking among the youth has garnered much attention in the academic and scientific discourse. Research and evidence show that majority of the smoking population begin smoking before reaching adulthood, implying the necessity of early onset prevention in limiting its widespread incidence. This desire to reduce the supply and demand of cigarettes is motivated by the health hazards and threats to social welfare that the habit inflicts, which can fundamentally impede economic welfare.
1.1 Consequences and Incidence of Smoking With regards to smoking behaviors, health is of primary concern. Studies show that persistent smoking can lead to the impairment of nearly every body organ and can make the smoker susceptible …show more content…
Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). Figures show that at least a billion individuals in the world engage in smoking, which qualifies it as a global concern (World Health Organization, 2016). In the Philippines, the prevalence of smoking addiction persists as an issue. The country, next to Indonesia, is the second largest cigarette consumer in the South East Asian region with around 17.3 million adults who smoke (The Manila Times, 2015). In addition, approximately ten Filipinos die every hour due to illnesses directly and indirectly caused by smoking, which is proportionate to 87,600 deaths per annum (World Health Organization Western Pacific Region, 2009; Valente, …show more content…
Critics of the cigarette industry are already suspecting that cigarette corporations have been shifting its target market to focus mainly on the youth, especially in lower and middle income regions such as the Philippines (The Manila Times, 2015). John Britton from the University of Nottingham’s UK Center for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies was quoted saying that the tobacco industry thrives from capitalizing on the youth’s susceptibility to risk-behavior engagement (Presse, 2017). Evidently, the extent of the problem is already quite drastic, as one in four Filipino children, aged thirteen to fifteen, were reported to have been smokers (The Manila Times, 2015). Aside from the threats to health, smoking addiction also poses mental risks to the youth through emotional or psychological distress and reduced learning capabilities. Moreover, smoking increases deviant behavior in school, as the act is forbidden in educational institutions (Glewwe et al. 2010). Given all of these, among various demographic groups, the youth are of primary concern when it comes to controlling smoking