TOBACCO RELATED HARM

Health Issue of Reducing Tobacco Related Harm



Health Issue of Reducing Tobacco-Related Harm

Introduction

Tobacco is mostly consumed by large number of population through smoking, and smoking is the cause of every sixth death in the Australia. This is the most important cause of death varied. Each year dies from smoking 2900000 Australia. More than 100000 deaths from this number associated with different kinds of cancer caused by smoking. Among adult males smoking caused 90% of all deaths from lung cancer, trachea and bronchi, 92% of deaths from cancer of lips, mouth and larynx, 80% of deaths from throat cancer, 78% of deaths from esophageal cancer, 48% of deaths from kidney cancer, 47% of deaths from cancer of the gallbladder, 29% of pancreatic cancer and 17% of stomach cancer. Every year, smoking kills 115,000 lives as a result of coronary heart disease and 27500 lives as a result of vascular disease of the brain (Healey, 2011). However, due to smoking every year 60000 people die due to lung diseases, such as blockage of air flow. Smoking during pregnancy caused 18% of all cases of low birth weight children, and shorter gestation, respiratory distress syndrome and sudden infant death syndrome. Involuntary or passive smoking is the cause of 3800 deaths among nonsmokers from lung cancer each year. In addition, cigarettes have led to 1500 deaths and 4000 injuries from fires (Frost-Pineda, Appleton, Fisher, Fox & Gaworski, 2010). Total direct and indirect costs associated with smoking, may reach $ 200 million a year.

Consequence of Smoking Tobacco

Smoking tobacco is addictive mainly to its active component, tobacco, which affects on the central nervous system. The smoker suffers physical and psychological dependence produces a withdrawal syndrome, called snuff (DeRuiter & Faulkner, 2006). The smoking increases the risks of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and is also particularly harmful during pregnancy. Moreover, smoking tobacco not only harms smokers, but also those who breathe the same air (passive smoking). Smoking is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in most developed countries in the early twenty-first century like Australia, but other studies indicate that these diseases attributed to smoking are actually industrial and chemical pollution, food additives and pesticides used in agriculture. In addition, the snuff as such is less smoking, except for some natural smoking, all that is sold is adulterated with chemicals that give it questionable or troubling properties such as being more addictive or improve its taste, and other who do not know because they also have secret formulas (Parascandola, 2011).

Social, Psychological and Environmental Impact of Tobacco Related Harm

Social, psychological and environmental impact of tobacco is quite severe. Tobacco smoking harms the image of tobacco consumers on society which leads to rejection of the smokers in society (Frost-Pineda, Appleton, Fisher, Fox & Gaworski, 2010). This will affect smokers psychologically and will ultimately impact environmentally.

Harm-Reduction Intervention

Despite the fact that in recent years, smoking has become less common, about one-third of all Australian adults continue to smoke (DeRuiter & Faulkner, ...