Advocacy Project: The Effects of Smoking



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 The Effects of Smoking

The purpose of this activity is to make you more knowledgeable on the effects of smoking.  Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health, but what is it really doing to society? To others?  To yourself?  If people are able to educate others on the effects of smoking, it may increase their success in the cessation process.

Background:   For a quick resource sheet, click here.  Also, from the same site listed above, click on "There's Hope for Minnesotans"
Here is another fact sheet. 

I am very passionate about this subject and have gained a lot of knowledge in it rcently.  I think it is really important to educate people on the effects of smoking because as a health educator, we want to work on primary intervention, not tertiary. 


Resources:
We all Pay the Price
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Smoking and Tobacco Use
American Lung Association: Stop Smoking
The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General


Instructions:  View the suggested fact sheets above.  Then Click here to take survey on the effects of smoking.  On the survey you will be asked 10 questions.  Please select the correct answer and submit your survey when finished.

Good luck!

Advocacy Project: Letter and Fact Sheet

December 6, 2010

Diana Degette

House of Representatives

2335 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

VOTE YES ON H.R. 1850 Quit Smoking for Life Act 2009

The proposed program would provide smoking cessation materials to many who would not otherwise be able to access them.  As a health educator, I believe that providing cessation materials will increase the number of individuals who succeed in quitting smoking for life.  This will reduce the prevalence of numerous diseases relating to smoking and in turn reduce health care costs all across the country.

This program will save lives and financial costs of the country.  Cigarette smoking currently costs the country more than $193 billion dollars in health care costs and lost productivity.  Also, more than 400,000 people die in the U.S. each year from smoking related diseases.  Nearly 70% of smokers want to quit completely, but many do not have the means to do so.  Each year, more than 45% of smokers try to quit.  If these individuals were provided assistance to purchase cessation materials, there would be a higher success rate for those who actually quit smoking. 

Opponents of this bill might not feel that Medicare or Medicaid is responsible for providing these resources to individuals.  Unfortunately, if these insurance companies do not offer assistance for individuals to purchase these items, the majority forego the use of them, which results in unsuccessful cessation attempts.  This means that smokers remain dependent to tobacco products and continue to cost the country billions of dollars.  The Quit Smoking for Life Act can save lives and save billions of dollars, which I believe is beneficial for everyone.

Thank you for your previous support and concern on smoking cessation issues.  We hope you decide to further promote this bill and vote yes to H.R. 1850 Quit Smoking for Life Act.  If I can be of any further assistance or provide you with additional information, please feel free to contact me at 555-555-5555 or email@gmail.com.

Kristy

Facts about Smoking



Source: CDC SAMMEC, MMWR 2008;57(45):1226–1228.



Each year, billions of dollars are spent on the costs of cigarette smoking.  Between health care costs and lost productivity:

·         Cigarette smoking costs more than $193 billion

·         Secondhand smoke costs more than $10 billion





Smoking doesn’t just cost our society financially:

·         More than 400,000 people in the U.S. die from smoking or smoking related diseases each year.

·         This is equal to 1200 people every day.

According to the 2004 Surgeon General’s Report, almost 172,000 new cases of lung cancer occurred and an estimated 157,200 people died from lung cancer.

·         Male smokers are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers.

·         Female smokers are 13 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers.

In the U.S., about 8.6 million have at least one serious illness caused by smoking. 

·         For every one person that dies from smoking, 20 more people suffer from one or more serious illnesses related to smoking.

Nicotine is an addictive drug.  When quitting, multiple attempts are common.  Some cessation tools that are helpful include counseling or medication, either by themselves or in combination.

·         Nearly 70% of smokers want to quit completely.

·         Each year, more than 45% of smokers try to quit.

Smoking cessation can provide multiple health benefits:

·         Lowers risk for cancer

·         Reduces risk for heart disease

·         Reduces respiratory symptoms

·         Reduces risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

 Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Smoking and Tobacco Use
American Lung Association: Stop Smoking
The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General
The Truth about Tobacco

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction

• The current issue is the use of tobacco products by adults aged 18 and older.
• The current legislation identified to address this is H.R. 1850 Quit Smoking for Life Act

Who is affected by the issue?

• American men and women 18 and older are affected most by this issue. 
• As it stands, those 18 and older are losing the most because they are using tobacco products that are harmful to their health.  This is increasing their likelihood of disease and death.  If the legislation was passed, then the tobacco industry would lose because more people could get cessation resources and in return less would be buying their products.
• Currently, the tobacco industry is gaining a lot from this issue.  The main people targeted by the tobacco industry are those 18-24 years old.  Over 45 million are tobacco users.   If the legislation was passed, then these individuals would gain their life and health as they would be given resources to quit smoking or tobacco use.

What are the consequences of the issue?

• Approximately, 8.6 million people have some type of disease caused in relation to smoking cigarettes.  The list of diseases goes on and on for users of tobacco products, this includes but is not limited to COPD, coronary heart disease, stroke, and a variety of cancers.  This obviously shortens the life span and reduces the quality of life. 
• Secondhand smoke is a huge problem and can greatly affect the family.  According to the American Lung Association, "Secondhand smoke causes more than an estimated 202,000 asthma episodes, 790,000 physician visits for buildup of fluid in the middle ear, and 430 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases each year."  This is simply from parents smoking around their children or family members.  Secondhand smoke is involuntary, meaning you are not choosing to inhale this toxins, but in many cases you do not have a choice.
• Society is affected in a multitude of ways from cigarette smoke and tobacco use.  First of all, it affects are environment.  Secondhand smoke affects the air we breathe and the water we drink.  Cigarette butts pollute the earth.  And the plants used to create these tobacco products take up valuable land and space that could better be put to use making fruits and vegetables or other products that are good for our health.  Second, society is affecting by the advertising that goes along with tobacco products.  Advertising and peer pressure can be huge enablers in the tobacco addiction.  The tobacco industry targets populations to increase their use of products.  Third, and an obvious cost to society is life expectancy.  Over 400,000 people die annually, equating to approximately 1200 a day.  Fourth,  it affects the economy in many ways, as we will discuss next. 

What is the economic impact of the issue?

• On advertising alone, nearly 10 billion dollars were spent on tobacco products.  On average though, tobacco use costs 50 billion dollars annually.  This results in nearly 97% of all health care costs and lost productivity.  If you include a variety of effects smoking has like smoking during pregnancy and the costs on her delivery or early retirement by smoking among other items, smoking can cost the economy up to 500 million dollars a year.  The citizens of the United States are bearing these costs. 
• The only economic benefits identified are the fact that we are able to tax tobacco products to cover a small portion of these costs.  One other item identified is that if all the smokers quit smoke and lived longer, that could potentially cost money as well because people would be living longer.  But the greatest economic benefit would come from smoking cessation. 

What is the social impact of the issue?

• Smoking can have a huge impact on the social aspect of life.  Often you choose friends and significant others based on their smoking preference.  People may not choose to socialize with smokers.  Smoking affects your day to day life, including your work.  Are you able to take smoke breaks? Where and how often?  Smokers are definitely classified as a minority population and may not receive some opportunities because they smoke.  Smokers tend to smell and smoking itself releases an unpleasant odor.  Thus, the ones who smoke are bearing these costs.
• The only ones that benefit from smoking or tobacco use is the tobacco industry. 

What are the barriers?

• A barrier that can be identified is that smoking and tobacco is addictive and it is difficult to quit.  Even though cessation resources may be available, if you do not want to quit, it is impossible to force it upon someone.
• Education is key in reducing these barriers.  If we can educate smokers and tobacco users on the effects as well as the costs, it may ease in the process of quitting.  By showing them it is beneficial for them to quit, they are more likely to continue with the cessation process. 

What are the resources?

• Resources that can be used for this issue include Healthy People 2010 information, Centers for Disease Control, QuitPlan, and the American Lung Association.  As well as recent and new legislation would serve as government resources. 
• They can be accessed online or by contacting their main site locations.

What is the history of this issue?

• Highlights from History of Tobacco Products:
• 1901: 43 out of 45 states created tough anti-cigarette laws
• 1909: 15 states passed laws banning sale of cigarettes
• 1910: Per capita Adults (18 years and older) consume 138 cigarettes a year
• 1912: First determination that smoking leads to lung cancer
• 1917: Tobacco bans and cigarette laws have fallen
• 1921: State taxation on tobacco products begins
• 1930: Per capita Adults consume 977 cigarettes a year
• 1934: Camel advertises "Smoke as many as you want.  They never get on your nerves."
• 1940: Per capita Adults consume 2558 cigarettes a year
• 1957: Law requires tobacco products to bear warning labels relating to causing lung cancer and diseases
• 1993: Prevalence of adult smokers is 25%
• 1994: 70% of those who smoke say they want to quit; 48% want to quit, but have failed
• 2000: Per capita Adult 1551 cigarettes a year
• What past efforts were made to address it?
• Recently, President Obama has signed to legislation into effect.  The first was largest tax increase on tobacco products.  The second was the strictest anti tobacco law: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA). 
• What were the results?
• From the tax increase, there was approximately a 9% drop in users.  From the FSPTCA, tobacco products have much stricter regulations making purchasing more difficult thus reducing the numbers or users. 

Allies & Opponents

• Supporters of this issue would be those that have lost a family member due to tobacco use or had a family member dwindle funds because of their use.  Health educators would also support this issue.  Previous tobacco users would support because they understand how difficult it is to quit, also current users that are desperately trying to quit would support because they know they need help.
• Tobacco industries would oppose this issue.  Also hospitals and insurance companies would oppose.  All of these people reap the economic benefits at the expense of user's lives.
• Supporters and those who oppose can work together to better the lives of Americans.  Hospitals and insurance companies should want to enhance the lives of Americans and they would benefit because they would be needed throughout the entire cessation process including the use of medicines, resources, and therapy.  By showing that they can still profit would lead to a more successful transition.

Your Recommendation

• How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?
• Vote yes!  Encourage those that are smokers to quit by giving them access to cessation materials and resources.

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

1. Focus Area 27: Tobacco Use
• Goal: Reduce illness, disability, and death related to tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke
• Objective: 27-1: Reduce tobacco use by adults aged 18 and older
• Sub objectives:  Reduce tobacco use by adults aged 18 and older in a) Cigarette smoking b) spit tobacco c) cigar smoking d) other products. 
• According to the Progress Quotient Chart:
• Cigarette Smoking: 25% have moved toward target 
• Spit Tobacco: 10% have moved toward target
• Cigar smoking: 17% have moved toward target
• Tobacco use regarding cigarettes, spit tobacco, and cigars for those age 18 and older, has made progress toward the goal.  Cigarette smoking for this age group has declined from the 1998 baseline 24% to the 2003 level of 21%.  Although spit tobacco and cigar smoking are progressing towards their target, it is going at a slower rate than cigarette smoking.
2. Progress, disparities, opportunities & challenges, and emerging issues:
•  Hispanics/Latinos have the best group and are moving toward the target for reducing cigarette smoking.  The next best group are Asians.  White and black non-Hispanics follow.  Then would be those classified as two races.  And the group with the greatest distance from the best group is American Indian or Alaska native. 
• Changes in disparity were not available for this objective. 
• Females with some college are the best group at reducing cigarette smoking.  Leaving those with less than high school and high school graduates at the low end.  For spit tobacco, gender was not an issue, but those with some college are the best group at reducing their usage.  And for smoking cigars, the best group was high school graduates either male or female.
• There are four emerging issues identified:
• Use and risks of Potentially Reduced Exposure Products (PREPs)
• Smokeless tobacco
• Internet sale of tobacco products
• Access of tobacco products through other sources besides retail stores
• Focusing on youth smoking is significant in achieving the Healthy People 2010 Goals. 
• Tobacco advertisement sales have increased and state funding has decreased on this, these two things together will likely have a negative impact on this goal's result 

H.R. 1850 Quit Smoking for Life Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)

Title: Quit Smoking for Life Act of 2009: Amends titles XVIII, V, XIX of Social Security Act to cover services and materials to aid in the cessation of tobacco.

Sponsor: Red DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 4/1/2009; Red Platts, Todd Russel [PA-19] - 4/1/2009; Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 10/22/2009

Last major action:  4/1/2009 introduced to Committee on Energy and Commerce, Committee on Ways and Means, House Energy and Commerce, and House Ways and Means

Recommendation: Vote Yes for H.R. 1850 Quit Smoking for Life Act 2009

My Political Representative: Congressman Congressmen Chip Cravaack 

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

My political representatives are the following:

President:  Barack Obama, Democrat 
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama

US Senators:  Al Franken, Democrat;

320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

(202) 224-5641

Web Form: franken.senate.gov/?p=contact Amy Klobuchar, Democrat, 302 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3244 Web Form: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

US Representatives:
District 8: Chip Cravaack, Republican; PO Box 951 North Branch, MN 55056; email: info@chipcravaack.com

Governor: Not Known due to recent election.
Mark Dayton, Democrat;
 or Tom Emmer, Republican;
Governor Office: 130 State Capitol 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  St. Paul, MN 55155
MN State Representatives:
District 3A: Tom Anzelc, DFL;  417 State Office Bldg 651-296-4936; email: rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn
District 3B: Carolyn McElfatrick, Republican; NA State Office Bldg 651-297-9010; email NA
District 8A: Bill Hilty, DFL; 559 State Office Bldg 651-296-4308; email rep.bill.hilty@house.mn
District 8B: Roger Crawford, Republican; NA State Office Building  651-297-9010; email NA

MN State Senators:
District 3: Tom Saxhaug, DFL; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Capitol Bldg,
Rm 124 651-296-4136; sen.tom.saxhaug@senate.mn
District 8: Tony Lourey, DFL; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Capitol Bldg,
Rm 303 651-296-0293; sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn

Itasca County Commissioner:
Mark Mandich, 36820 Baypoint Rd Bovey, MN 55709  218-245-1547; mark.mandich@afscmecouncil65.org

Itasca County Board Chair:
Lori Dowling, 123 NE 4th St. Grand Rapids MN 55744 218-327-2847
lori.dowling@co.itasca.mn.us

City Mayor:  Not known due to recent election.
Michael Antonovich or Holly Guyer
Coleraine City Hall, PO Box 670 Coleraine MN 55722 218-245-2112

Welcome to Kristy's Fun in the Sun Spot

Welcome to my blog.


Here is a photo of palm trees on the beach.

Hi, my name is Kristy and you have found yourself at Kristy's Fun in the Sun Spot.  I created this blog as part of my Environmental Health class.  I am a Health Education major with emphasis on Community Health.  My blog is about having fun in the sun.  I love being in the sun and the more I am in it, the happier I am.  I intend to make my blog fun and interesting, but also educational.  It is important to me to be safe in the sun.  I plan to educate on proper actions to take while being in the sun and provide tips to stay safe.

There will be 6 different types of posts on my blog.  These include the following:

1. Advocacy Project
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Read 'n' Seed
6. Share and Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is has been labeled with all six kinds of posts. You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page. All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

1. Brier@Lovin Nature with Brier
2. Kristy@Kristy's Fun in the Sun Spot
3. Jamie@Jamie Says Jump
4. Elly@Elly Dreams Green
5. Lauren@Lauren's Pouring Rain
6. Mary@Blue Skies for Mary
7. Sarah@Take a Hike with Sarah

You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column. You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column. I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget. You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."

I am really looking forward to blogging.  I am very new to this whole experience, so hopefully it goes smoothly.  It will be a new fun way to communicate with others.  Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you come back and check it out again.