Greetings Classmates,
For my class project I have been studying the residents of Pierce County, Washington. As of the last census in 2010 there were 795,225 residents. As of that date, 88.7 % of the population identified as non-Hispanic and 11.2 % Hispanic or Latino (tpcdh.org, 2016)). A majority of Pierce County residents have at least a high school diploma (90%) and have access to health care (88%) (tpcdh.org, 2016). Unfortunately, there is an increase in percent of residents living below the Federal Poverty Level and a reported tobacco use that is higher than National and Washington State levels (tpcdh.org, 2016). How big is the problem? Nationally, tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, with more than 480,000 deaths …show more content…
Healthy People’s objective is to reduce overall smoking from 20.6% to 12 % of adults and reduce smoking use by adolescents from 26.0 % to 21% (healthypeople.gov, 2016a). Healthy People strongly encourages communities and states to develop policies that discourage smoking such as increasing the price of tobacco products, expanding cessation programs, and limiting exposure of marketing tobacco and e-cigarettes to students (healthypeople.gov, 2016b).
Why is it a health problem?
Tobacco use is a serious health problem causing premature death, respiratory illnesses, cancer, heart disease and stroke and other health problems. Tobacco narrows the vascular pathways to the heart and lungs and damages these areas on a cellular level.
How does it affect the community?
Tobacco users in the form of secondhand smoke affect the communities. Children and infants are especially susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke, which include more frequent asthma attacks, respiratory and ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cdc.gov, 2016a). Communities are also effected economically by lost workdays and health care …show more content…
Cigarette smoking causes nearly one in every 5 deaths in the United States each year, including deaths from second hand smoke. The life expectancy of smokers is 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers. Smokeless tobacco can also cause cancer and death (from heart arrhythmia) (cdc.gov, 2015b).
How readily can this problem be changed?
Residents of Pierce County have recently taken action and have started the Alternative Tobacco Project with the goal of educating youth and the community about the risks of alternative tobacco products (tpchd.org, n.d.). Additionally, Washington State will no longer issue permits for the establishment of e-cigarette stores as youth find them dramatically appealing and previous law left the sale of the devices unregulated (tpchd.org, 2015c).
How easily is this prevented?
The Healthy People goal to reduce smoking amongst all age groups is admirable, but not easily obtainable. It has taken decades of media campaigns, surgeon general reports, and policy maker’s legislation to reduce our Nation’s smoking rates. The key to prevention is to reduce the number of new smokers.
What are barriers to
For my class project I have been studying the residents of Pierce County, Washington. As of the last census in 2010 there were 795,225 residents. As of that date, 88.7 % of the population identified as non-Hispanic and 11.2 % Hispanic or Latino (tpcdh.org, 2016)). A majority of Pierce County residents have at least a high school diploma (90%) and have access to health care (88%) (tpcdh.org, 2016). Unfortunately, there is an increase in percent of residents living below the Federal Poverty Level and a reported tobacco use that is higher than National and Washington State levels (tpcdh.org, 2016). How big is the problem? Nationally, tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, with more than 480,000 deaths …show more content…
Healthy People’s objective is to reduce overall smoking from 20.6% to 12 % of adults and reduce smoking use by adolescents from 26.0 % to 21% (healthypeople.gov, 2016a). Healthy People strongly encourages communities and states to develop policies that discourage smoking such as increasing the price of tobacco products, expanding cessation programs, and limiting exposure of marketing tobacco and e-cigarettes to students (healthypeople.gov, 2016b).
Why is it a health problem?
Tobacco use is a serious health problem causing premature death, respiratory illnesses, cancer, heart disease and stroke and other health problems. Tobacco narrows the vascular pathways to the heart and lungs and damages these areas on a cellular level.
How does it affect the community?
Tobacco users in the form of secondhand smoke affect the communities. Children and infants are especially susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke, which include more frequent asthma attacks, respiratory and ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cdc.gov, 2016a). Communities are also effected economically by lost workdays and health care …show more content…
Cigarette smoking causes nearly one in every 5 deaths in the United States each year, including deaths from second hand smoke. The life expectancy of smokers is 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers. Smokeless tobacco can also cause cancer and death (from heart arrhythmia) (cdc.gov, 2015b).
How readily can this problem be changed?
Residents of Pierce County have recently taken action and have started the Alternative Tobacco Project with the goal of educating youth and the community about the risks of alternative tobacco products (tpchd.org, n.d.). Additionally, Washington State will no longer issue permits for the establishment of e-cigarette stores as youth find them dramatically appealing and previous law left the sale of the devices unregulated (tpchd.org, 2015c).
How easily is this prevented?
The Healthy People goal to reduce smoking amongst all age groups is admirable, but not easily obtainable. It has taken decades of media campaigns, surgeon general reports, and policy maker’s legislation to reduce our Nation’s smoking rates. The key to prevention is to reduce the number of new smokers.
What are barriers to