The rate of consumption varies from state to state as identified in the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) report 2013. The study by CDC conducted a survey and focused on consumption, laws, and prevention campaigns in each state of the US. The insights or highlights of the survey were presented in the form of map to highlight crucial points that are relevant to the topic. The main finding noticed in the overall results of the survey was that consumption was high in the areas where there is an absence of laws and/or prevention campaigns. It could be argued that laws and campaigns are essential for reducing the consumption of tobacco, and it can change people’s behavior.
The government imposed laws and regulations to prohibit the consumption of products that are harmful for the general public. The use of tobacco is not only harmful to a person, but it is dangerous for the people in the surrounding. The laws and regulations for restricting smoking in public places are the best solutions to prevent the excessive use of cigarette consumption. Smoke-free laws were introduced in the United States in the 1980s, but the implementation was carried out by few states (NCSL, 2013).
Azevedo (2015) criticizes the concept by claiming that laws and regulations cannot decline the use of tobacco as users can predict this activity. Although people try to avoid using tobacco in public places as restricted by lawmakers, smokers find their ways to get satisfaction from this product (Azevedo, 2015). Tobacco consumption is increasingly becoming a common habit of youngsters and adults.
Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) (2013) showed a clear view through mapping of cigarette consumption in all states of the US that consumption is high in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, etc. where there is no law regarding the use of tobacco consumption in public places. The US government has implemented various policies and laws to avoid its consumption such as awareness campaigns, but the product is not banned as people have become edict of it. The current situation indicates that the tobacco consumption has a direct relation with laws to prevent it.
Tobacco-Free Kids campaign was introduced in 1998 in which the US government promised to prevent the kids from this disease. The budget was allocated for spending on this campaign in different states, but unfortunately, these spending were not allocated according to the size of the population in each state (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2013).
McQueen & Puska (2012) argue that consumption can be reduced by organizing awareness campaigns as it is evident from societies of different regions where the consumption is frequently declining. Prevention programs and campaigns allow editors to revive their situation and become healthy and productive.
A behavioral risk factor is important in understanding the excessive use of consumption. The term refers to the behavior pattern that is not suitable for health. Azevedo (2015) states that the consumption of unfavorable products relates to the behavior of people as they have become the addict of such products. McQueen & Puska (2012) state that difference in perception and preferences is the main reason for the involvement of people in such type of activities.
It could be concluded that the government and health care authorities can play a major role in decreasing the consumption of tobacco.
References
Azevedo, M. J. (2015). The state of health and health care in Mississippi. Meridian: University Press of Mississippi.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2013). State funding for tobacco prevention. Broken promises to our children: A state-by-state look at the 1998 state tobacco settlement 16 years later. Retrieved from: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/microsites/statereport2015/
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). (2013). Current cigarette use among adults. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/statesystem/cigaretteuseadult.html
McQueen, D. V., & Puska, P. (2012). Global Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance. New York: Springer Science & Business Media.
NCSL. (2013, February). Enacted indoor smoke-free State smoke-free laws and health. Retrieved from: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/enacted-indoor-smoke-free-laws.aspx
