In the United States, the use of cigarettes has decreased from nearly 42% of the population in 1965, to nearly 19% among adults in 2011. However, cigarette smoking remains the most common form of tobacco used in the US that about 43.8 million adults smoke cigarettes. Near 22% of men and 17% of women were found to be cigarette smokers in 2011. Education has a strong relation with cigarette smoking rates. People with higher education have a lower smoking rate.
Introduction Tobacco Use Disorder is a disorder that occurs when a person’s health or social welfare is harmed by the use of tobacco. In other words, the disorder is caused by becoming dependent on tobacco. Tobacco may be used in the form of cigarettes, cigars and pipes as well as smokeless tobacco products such as snuff and chewing tobacco. According to statistics, tobacco use is the top cause of preventable and avoidable diseases and deaths in the US (Kalman et al, 2009). Specifically, tobacco accounts for approximately 435,000 deaths per year and about $100 billion in direct and indirect medical costs.
ASH (2013) says when research was started on smoking in 1948 the amount of men smoking in the UK was 82% and 41% in women. These stats stayed consistent the 1970’s, where it dropped to 51% for men and 41% for women. From 1974 to 1990 the amount of men smoking dropped to 30% and 26% for women. In modern times starting from 1990 there has been a slow increase in smokers, ... ... middle of paper ... ...king is the main cause for shorter life expectancy for youths living in deprived areas. This is why stopping adults smoking first will help children.
“For the longest time chewing tobacco was mostly used by older men, it wasn’t until between 1900-1991 that boys 18-21 started to chew tobacco. Presently, 3% of adults and 8% of high school students in the U.S. are current spit tobacco users. Although prevalence rates in Utah are lower at 1.6% and 4.9% respectively, they are far from trivial. High school males have the highest spit tobacco rate of 13.6% in the nation and 7.1% in Utah. During 2005, the five largest tobacco manufacturers spent a new record of $250.79 million on smokeless tobacco advertising and promotion, versus the previous record of $238.68 million in 2001("History of Smokeless Tobacco."
One interesting fact that attracted people to use tobacco was the misguidance which tobacco companies described; like advertising cigarettes with the word “light” which it was taken as a misconception that the product would be less harmful. In 2011 young males who earned a GED were most affected among the 43.8 million US people who used tobacco; this information was analyzed by the CDC in an article called “Cigarette Smoking in the United States”. It was apparent young people were lacking guidance and structure to avoid or quit tobacco use. Many smokers who started using tobacco products as young adults were more likely than non-smokers to die of lung r... ... middle of paper ... ...United States”. Web.
Tobacco smoking is the most prevalent cause of lung cancer in the United Kingdom and smoking is the main cause of differences in illness and death between the poor and wealthy (Gruer et al. 2007). While the desire and motivation to give up smoking appears to have no difference depending on socio-economic status, people from the most deprived areas have lower smoking cessation rates (Bauld, L, 2006). People from more deprived areas also have a poorer education and have less motivation to change there lifestyle to improve their health.
Today, cigarette smoking is really common in younger age groups. Teenagers have this idea that smoking will make you cool and help you fit in. In actuality, that is not the case. Smoking at a young age is the worst thing you can do to your body and is a gateway to other drugs and bad habits. “ 90% of smokers began before the age of 19…About 30% of teen smokers will continue smoking and die early from a smoking-related disease…According to the Surgeon General, teenagers who smoke are 3 times more likely to use alcohol 8 times more likely to smoke marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine.” (2).
There is minimal use of foreign products such as Bidis and Kreteks. Smoking related deaths from stroke, emphysema, cancer and heart disease kill an “estimated 443,000 Americans each year” and “costs the nation $96 billion in direct medical costs” and an almost equal amount in secondary costs from work loss productivity (Sebelius, 2012). Tobacco use in the form of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes is the most common form of substance abuse among teens. Prevention of tobacco use among teens aged 13-17 is a significant social and health concern. The Surgeon General’s latest report (2014) on the health consequences of smoking relates an annual related death of over 278,000 from the years 2005-2009 (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012).
Most consumers of tobacco have addicted to the habit before reaching the age of 18-years-old. While smoking has always been socially acceptable in India, the bulk of it is consumed in the form of bidis. With growing disposable incomes, still, consumers are estimated to shift to cigarettes. Cigarettes are deliberated to be fashionable and young executives smoke them to fit in with their peer group. With rapid urbanization and increasingly hectic and nerve-wracking way of life.
Smokers should have the right to choose what to do with their own health but they should respect non-smokers. Overall, smoking is a waste of money, and if people can quit, that’s the best thing. Everyone will live a longer, healthier life with their loved ones, which is why I think cigarettes should be banned.