Dr. Obumnneke AmadiWalden university

Youth Smoking cessationand Why it Matters

Facts about Smoking

Health hazards:◦Most of those killed by tobacco are not particularly heavy smokers and most started as teenagers.

◦Approximately 50 percent of smokers die prematurely from their smoking, on average 14 years earlier than non-smokers.

◦Smoking kills one in two of those who continue to smoke past age 35.◦There is evidence that smoking can cause about 40 different diseases.

Exposure of children to second-hand smoke:◦can cause middle ear effusion◦increases the risk of croup, pneumonia and bronchiolitis by 60 percent in the first 18 months of life

◦increases the frequency and severity of asthma episodes◦is a risk factor for induction of asthma in asymptomatic children.

Smoking Kills

Car crashes

Homicide

Fires

Suicide

❑ Each day, 1,200 Americans die from smoking

❑ Each smoker who dies is replaced by 2 young smokers

❑ 90% of all smokers start before age 18

❑ 99% of all smokers start before age 26

24.8% of full-time college students aged 18-22 years old were current smokers in 2010

The number of smokers who initiated smoking after age 18 increased from 600,000 in 2002 to 1 million in 2010

Progression from occasional to daily smoking almost always occurs by age 26

College Students & Smoking

Tobacco companies have carefully studied the attitudes and behaviors of young people, particularly as they go through life transitions, such as attending

college.

“If young people don’t start using tobacco by age 26, they almost certainly will never start.”

- Surgeon General Regina Benjamin

College Students – Projected TollBased on current rates, it is

predicted that more than 1 million current college students will die prematurely from tobacco use

EnvironmentalImpact

Environmental Impact

Cigarette Litter - Poison◦ Cigarette butts contain all of the

carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals, pesticides and nicotine that make tobacco use the leading cause of preventable death

EconomicImpact

∙ Reduced student health care costs∙ Reduced absenteeism∙ Increased students productivity∙ Reduced fire damage

Economic Benefits smoke less school Policies

Healthy People 2020’s Tobacco Prevention Objectives:

• Reduce tobacco use by adults and adolescents• Reduce the initiation of tobacco use by

adolescents, and young adults• Reduce the proportion of non-smokers exposed

to secondhand smoke

Government Leadership

Government Leadership (cont.)

e.g. The Tobacco-Free school Initiative (TFCCI):

Vision:Widespread expansion of tobacco-free policies to institutions of higher learning across the U.S.

Goals:1. Foster a collaborative, cooperative effort

among academic institutions and partners in the public health community

2. Expand awareness in academia and among the public of the need for and benefits of such policies

3. Facilitate information flow and access to technical assistance

• Communications began more than a year in advance of effective date

• Installation of new signage; currently being updated and expanded (ongoing process)

• E-mail blasts, social media messages, posters, tent cards, bus posters, campus newspaper articles, sidewalk chalk, dedicated website, video

• Advisory committee meets 3x a year

Planning & Implementation

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS

The following elements must all be included to maximize the success of any program to reduce tobacco use: Helping Smokers Quit (Cessation)◦School-Based Programs◦Enforcement◦Monitoring and Evaluation◦Related Policy Efforts

Examples of Smokeless Tobacco

GUIDING PRINCIPLES Funded

◦ Unless properly financed, tobacco prevention will have little effect against the marketing efforts of the tobacco industry (over $8 billion each year).

◦ CDC has issued funding guidelines for state tobacco control programs, which can serve as a basis for planning.

Promoting Smoking Cessation - Go smoke Free !⚫THE FIVE A’S:

⚫ ASK :identify and document smoking status⚫ ASSESS : assess a person’s willingness to quit⚫ ADVISE : offer cessation advice on regular basis, over a period of time t⚫ ASSIST : offer treatment and assistance t such as replacement therapy⚫ ARRANGE: arrange follow up for smokers