Smoking has become rampant in the most of countries in the world. It has become so rampant in the world that it has led to the increased mortality rates among the youths. If not controlled, the country’s economy is affected since; the production level reduces. Smoking of any substances would create health issues like lung cancers and mental disabilities. Nigeria has been cited to be the most affected nation in Africa (1,234). The drugs come about with a lot of addictions that affect the activities of the victims; being rendered slaves of substance abuse. In most cases, the smokers thereby cannot undertake any job without having a puff. Many governmental and non-governmental bodies have come to the rescue of many people by providing rehabilitation centers where they offer guidance and counselling services. The best people to forward the recommendation are the Nigerian government that is the leaders at all levels, the religious leaders and the schools.
However, there are some things that can be done to reduce the smoking rate in Nigeria. The recommendations include; providing counselling services to the victims and the society at large. Rehabilitation centers have been put up by the government to offer help and educate the smokers on the disadvantages and the harmful effects they pose themselves to. Having been explained for the harm, some of the smokers quit the habit (2,306). The World Health Organization has also tried to impose some regulations to control rendering the smokers an ample time to have access to the drug. Having tobacco readily available in the country increases both the rate and the number of people who consume it.
Nigeria could also try to increase the prices of all the substances smoked. When the price is high, the substances will be out of reach from the low-income earners who in most cases are the addicts. Many people will not have the purchasing power of the products leaving them with no other option other than quitting the habit. Though it improves the economic status in the country, the government must also consider both the benefits and the disadvantages of it. The disadvantages will obviously outweigh the benefits necessitating the country to increase the prices so as to reduce the intake.
Another recommendation would be to impose rules and regulations that convict the tobacco smokers at public places. Those guarding the public places should be given a mandate to prohibit smoking from within their premises. If they fail to comply, they should be ones charged by the federal government. By doing this, smoking can be controlled since most people are always in the public places. The law should be brought to the public domain so that the people will not have an excuse when charged in court(1, 95). Furthermore, ignorance is no defense. The young people would not be willing to go to jail as because; in most cases, most of them are unemployed, therefore, cannot be able to meet the fines charged on them.
The recommendations are simple yet efficient if everyone is positive about it. They are the most inexpensive ways to curb the menace as it does not require a lot of cash. The setting up the rehabilitation centers is the only one requiring some money. The government officials must be willing to support the initiative as people will follow what their leaders’ do (2,64). The government officials should provide the moral support required. The societies should also not be left behind because; when the problem becomes uncontrollable, it is their societies that will be affected as the insecurity levels increase. Social marketing and public campaign must be embraced by the media as many people would listen to them due to the conveyance of all news.
References.
- Slama, Karen. Tobacco and Health: [proceedings of the Ninth World Conference on Tobacco and Health, Held October 10-14, 1994, in Paris, France]. New York, NY [u.a.: Plenum Press, 1995. Print.
- Goldberg, Ray. Drugs Across the Spectrum. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
