The Best Way to Prevent Smoking - Research Paper Example

?The Best Way to Prevent Smoking I. INTRODUCTION Smoking is one of the most identified health related issues in almost every nation. Smoking is conceived to be the major cause of death amid these nations due to breathing problems, cancer and other related health issues. It is also the ultimate factor accountable for different types of disabilities, suffering along with pains. Moreover, smoking adversely affects the conditions of individuals in case of other diseases. In cigarette smoke, the addictive intergradient is nicotine which quickly dissolves in blood and provides a sensation of pressure along with energy. It is the major cause of cancer and it also unfavorably affects other internal body parts which include lungs, blood vessels and heart along with stomach as well as intestines (Link and Phelan, “Social Conditions as Fundamental Causes of Disease”; The patient Education Institute, Inc., “X-Plain Smoking – The Facts”). In this respect, smokers are observed to be implicated to various diseases including cancers in mouth, lung, kidney, pancreas, respiratory diseases, coronary disease and diabetes among others. It is also perceived to adversely affect the social health of an individual in relation to customs, habits and lifestyles along with norms (Sheiham and Watt, “The Common Risk Factor Approach: A Rational Basis for Promoting Oral Health”). The increased social as well as personal health problems have led to the development of various health educational programs and the adoption of other measures such as promoting the effect of smoking through mass media in order to minimize health related problems emanating from both active and passive smoking to the smokers along with non-smokers as well. Additionally, there are various methods and approaches to bring a leash on the aspect of smoking which include warning labels, mass media campaigns and imposing additional tax. With these considerations, the study intends to describe the different methods that include warning labels in the cigarette packages, mass media campaigns and increasing cigarette tax in order to prevent and mitigate smoking. THESIS II. THE FIRST METHOD: WARNING LABELS ON CIGARETTE PACKAGES A. What are the warning labels on cigarette packages? The cigarette packages contain labeling stating the information in relation to health-related problems. The warning labels in the cigarette packages include printed statements revealing the health problems. The warning labels are used as a preventive measure for controlling tobacco consumption and smoking. In this context, effective warning labels are required to be provided in the cigarette packages as a better health education provision. Warning labels on cigarette packages will act as important information about the health-related risks that are associated with tobacco consumption. The ‘Federal Trade Committee’ (FTC) has stated that tobacco products are required to provide health warnings in terms of warning labels on cigarette packages. Moreover, advertisements are required to be displayed as well as communicated (Elders 257). There are two types of warning levels in cigarette packages which include texts and images. Warning labels depicted in textual format will provide written information in relation to health-related issues that can be conceived from cigarette packages (Thrasher, Rousu, Anaya-Ocampo, Reynales-Shigematsu, Arillo-Santillan and Hernandez-Avila 2916-2925). The text messages provide statement to consumers about the risks that are associated with tobacco consumption. On the other hand, images are also used to depict pictorial messages signifying the health-related risks attached with tobacco consumption. In this regard, a combination of text and images are identified to be of greater significance in conveying health-related information to consumers. In addition, a combination of textual and pictorial message improves the accessibility of information along with facilitating to educate people about the harmful and adverse effects of tobacco consumption (Fong, Hammond, Jiang, Li, Quah, Driezen and Yan 69-77). B. Who use text warning labels on cigarette packages? Textual warning labels are used mainly in the United States of America (US) as a prime source of informing people about the health-related issues linked with tobacco consumption. In the US, text messages are used as an effective way of communicating the different health-related issues that can be acquired through smoking. The US is the only country that uses text messages as the way of informing the health hazards that are associated with smoking in order to prevent people from smoking (O’Hegarty, Pederson, Yenokyan, Nelson and Wortley 1-9). Who use images warning labels on cigarette packages? There are different countries which include Australia, South Africa, Canada, Poland, Singapore and Thailand that use graphic images as a way of conveying health warning to people. The graphical warning labels are conceived to be of great significance in communicating health problems information in a more successful manner as compared to just textual information (O’Hegarty, Pederson, Yenokyan, Nelson and Wortley 1-9). How it works? The textual and images used as warning labels on cigarette packages provide adequate information as well as knowledge in relation to various health hazardous diseases that can occur from tobacco consumption i.e. smoking. The packages are used as a major way of communicating and educating people about the health-related problems that are associated with smoking. Additionally, the messages depicted through text along with images on cigarette packages are used to prevent people from smoking. The dire consequences as displayed through these messages such as death that might be caused due to incessant addiction of smoking can certainly act as a deterrence for the consumers to abstain from the habit (Steelhammer, “Steelhammer: Re-inventing Cigarette Warning Labels Is Becoming a Nasty Habit”; Vardavas, Connolly, Karamanolis and Kafatos 212-217). C. The advantages of Warning labels on cigarette packages. A combination of textual and pictorial messages provides a better accessibility to propel the information to be communicated. In this respect, the warning labels create fear and threat in the mind of people about the causes of different diseases through smoking. Moreover, these warning labels act as a motivator and assist individuals in changing their behavior along with attitude towards smoking habits. Respectively, these warning labels aid people to prevent or quit smoking. In this regard, warning labels on packages play an effective role in preventing smoking (Sabbane, Lowrey and Chebat 332-345). D. The disadvantages of warning labels on cigarette packages. Warning labels on cigarette packages are identified to possess certain disadvantages which reduce the significance of the messages that are conveyed through warning labels. One of the major disadvantages is that the warning labels are printed upon the back side of packages. In this context, the warning labels printed on both sides of the cigarette packages might improve the effectiveness of the message conveyed. Another disadvantage of warning labels on cigarette packages is language barrier. The warning labels on cigarette packages are communicated in a perception of conveying factual information without depicting realistic information. Contextually, the messages conveyed at times are not effective in motivating the people to quit smoking. There are many countries where only either text or images is used as a way of communicating health-related problems through cigarette packages. A combination of both pictorial and textual message assists in communicating information successfully to people about the hazards and health problems linked with smoking (O’Hegarty, Pederson, Nelson, Mowery, Gable and Wortley 467-473). III. THE SECOND METHOD: MASS MEDIA CAMPAIGN A. What are the mass media campaigns? Mass media campaigns refer to the procedure of using different media technologies such as newspaper, television, radio and pamphlets among others with the objective of communicating information to a large interned audience. Mass media campaigns are usually used to change the behavior, attitudes along with awareness of people towards certain promotional programs. It assists in communicating messages in a more effective and sustainable manner (Elder, Shults, Sleet, Nichols, Thompson and Rajab 57-65). B. How it works in preventing smoking area. Mass media campaigns are used as effective measures of preventing people from smoking, motivate smokers to quit along with changing the behavior of people towards smoking habits. In this regard, these campaigns are required to be planned in an efficient manner so that the desired goals along with objectives are accomplished successfully. Moreover, the intended audience for convening the message should be framed appropriately and the message must be communicated through proper channels. These campaigns should work in a collaborative manner with other local health originations in order to promote it with greater efficiency. Subsequently, a proper planning will facilitate in implementing the strategies suitably so that the objectives of the promotional programs are accomplished. The messages conveyed aid in informing along with educating people about the health-related problems and hazards that are associated with smoking (World Lung Foundation, “Guidelines for Planning and Implementing Mass Media Advertising Campaigns”). C. The advantages of mass media campaigns. Mass media campaigns can be used as an effective way of communicating messages to a large number of people. It assists in mobilizing along with supporting local agencies and other professionals in conveying messages to intended population to whom they have direct accessibility. It also links public, private along with voluntary organizations to work in a collaborative manner. In this regard, mass media campaigns aid in providing better information along with education to the masses about the health problems and hazards that are associated with smoking. Additionally, these campaigns motivate national along with local agencies to change their policies in order to develop a comprehensive supportive environment. Respectively, it will aid masses in changing their behavior and social context. Contextually, mass media campaigns are identified to be effective in developing better awareness, attitudes and knowledge amid masses in relation to the messages communicated through it (Durkin, Brennan and Wakefield 127-138). D. The disadvantages of mass media campaigns. Mass media campaigns do have certain disadvantages in their approaches to improve the effectiveness of the information to be conveyed. Mass media campaigns at times lack specific path on the basis of which people of a certain local community is targeted so that education and knowledge in relation to smoking are provided in an effective manner. Additionally, the messages to be conveyed through mass media are seemed to be fixed in nature. The messages can also be misunderstood by the targeted masses. Moreover, there is a lack of feedback and due to which it is difficult to evaluate the performances and effectiveness of the messages communicated. Mass media campaigns also require adequate time and finance in order to communicate information and messages in an enhanced manner. Furthermore, it does not allow users to develop and communicate their respective important information (Mason, Leavitt and Chaffee 89). IV. THE THIRD METHOD: INCREASING CIGARETTES TAX A. The cigarettes tax in different countries. In every country, cigarettes are taxed in different forms which include excise duty, sales tax, value added tax and import duties among others. The national governments levy cigarette tax and additionally, there are various subnational units that include provinces, cities, states and countries among others that charge other additional taxes. The taxation policy of different countries in relation to cigarette differs widely. Cigarette tax acts as a source of revenue for the government. In most of the developed countries, cigarette tax has been increased with the intention of minimizing the tobacco use. In a global context, the excise duty of tobacco has been raised, which increases the prices of cigarettes. In this respect, the governments of different countries levy taxes in accordance with the taxation policies of the different countries (Cooper and Witt 41-58). B. Tobacco industry influences cigarettes tax. The tobacco industry has an influence in terms of the enactment of the cigarette tax. In this regard, it has been observed that different tobacco companies have used diverse taxation policies. The tobacco industry ascertains that an increase in cigarette excise tax will facilitate in reducing consumption of tobacco mostly amid teenagers and young people. Moreover, the industry has adopted different policies because of an imposed reduction of marketing activities. Herein, price is identified to be an essential element that can be used to prevent youth smoking. Respectively, advertising along with promotional activities of the tobacco companies has been differentiated mainly relating to price based promotion and marketing which include coupling and discounts among others. Contextually, the implementation of these policies has facilitated the tobacco industry in attracting youths and new smokers. Additionally, an increase in cigarette tax has limited the tobacco companies’ option to indulge in different promotional activities (Claloupka, Cummings, Morley and Horan 62-72). C. The advantages of increasing cigarette tax. The increase in cigarette tax is determined to be affecting the tobacco industry to a significant extent in their marketing along with promotional activities. The industry is limited in its promotional operations facilitating in reducing consumption of cigarette. In almost every nation, cigarette tax is used as an important tool for controlling tobacco consumption. Additionally, an increase in cigarette tax will facilitate in developing a healthy state. In this context, it will also minimize cost in relation healthcare due to reduced smoking. Another advantage of increase in cigarette tax is that it will also facilitate in minimizing illicit trade. The funds generated by the cigarette tax can be used for different social welfare and tobacco prevention programs which might in turn assist in discouraging tobacco consumption (Ye, Lee and Chen 1-9). D. The disadvantages of increasing cigarette tax. There are certain disadvantages that are attached with increasing cigarette tax as such dramatic increase in cigarette tax as compared to other taxes is perceived as a major source of generating revenue by the government of a country. It is also perceived as a regressive tax procedure, which implies that low along middle-income earners are the ones who have to pay more taxes as compared people in better-off conditions. It is regressive in the sense that the tax rate is fixed for every cigarette pack. Contextually, smokers from less better-off conditions have to pay a larger share of their income as compared to higher-income groups. Another disadvantage is that taxpayers who smoke in order to evade increasing cigarette tax can adopt other illicit measures of purchasing cigarettes from other states along with tribes. Additionally, state taxpayers can adopt measures of writing off cigarette taxes as a deduction in their respective federal tax returns. In this manner, in the near future, the increasing cigarette tax is likely to minimize the government revenue as many people might quit smoking (ITEP, “Cigarette Taxes: Issues and Options”). V. CONCLUSION From the above discussion, it can be comprehended that smoking is one of the most hazardous health-related problems and amid the major causes of death in almost every nation. Smoking is also conceived to the main factor accountable for cancer and other health issues. In this respect, there are three methods which include warning labels, mass media campaigns along with cigarette tax as the major ways of preventing smoking and discouraging smokers to consume tobacco. Warning labels are used as an effective communication tool of conveying health-related problems that are linked with smoking through cigarette packages. It has been observed that text and images are used as warning labels. Respectively, a combination of both texts along with images is determined to be the most effective way of informing and communicating messages. Mass media campaigns are used as a promotional approach to convey a common message to mass number of people. In mass media campaigns, different media technologies which include television, radio and newspaper among others are used to influence and change the behavior of people. Mass media also assists in promoting programs in a collaborative manner with different professional, private along with public health organizations to prevent smoking. Cigarette tax is used as an effective measure of levying increased taxes on tobacco products, assisting in reducing tobacco consumption. In this respect, it can be determined that cigarette tax will be the most effective way of preventing smoking and discouraging smokers towards reducing consumption of tobacco products. Increased cigarette tax will limit tobacco companies from conducting different promotional along with marketing activities facilitating in attracting youths. Additionally, the rising prices of cigarette will motivate smokers to quit smoking. Works Cited Claloupka, F. J., K. M. Cummings, C. P. Morley, J. K. Horan. “Tax, Price and Cigarette Smoking: Evidence from the Tobacco Documents and Implications for Tobacco Company Marketing Strategies.” Tobacco Control 11 (2002): 62-72. Print. Cooper, Adrian and Daniel Witt. “The Linkage between Tax Burden and Illicit Trade of Excisable Products: The Example of Tobacco.” World Customs Journal 6.2 (2012): 41-58. Print. Durkin, Sarah Emily Brennan and Melanie Wake?eld. Mass Media Campaigns to Promote Smoking Cessation among Adults: An Integrative Review. 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