Introduction
Tobacco use is one of the health concerns in the United States. It is estimated that more than 480,000 people die annually in the US due to cigarette smoking (CDC, 2021). Cigarette smoking affects almost all body organs, and it is harmful to the smoker’s health by causing many diseases (Kalkhoran et al., 2018). Tobacco use affects both active smokers and passive smokers, implying it impacts the community.
These smokers are primarily children and infants who are entirely unaware of the effects of smoking. According to CDC, more than 2,500,000 passive smokers have died from health complications linked to tobacco use (CDC, 2021). Hence, there are severe health consequences for people involved in smoking and non-smokers. With the rapid advancement in technology, there are many ways of inducing cigarettes, including vapes, e-cigarettes, and hookah, smoking and chewing.
Targeted Population
The health concern associated with tobacco use is vital for health promotion among young people since most have not applied for health insurance. Young adults get addicted to smoking when they start using tobacco products. Over the past decades, there has been an increase in cigarettes among young people in college yet to graduate (Kalkhoran et al., 2018). The age bracket of these people is between 18 and 24 years and based on race/ethnicity, and they are American Indian/Alaska Native non-Hispanic (CDC, 2021). The majority of this population is single and unemployed, with an annual household income of less than $ 35,000 (CDC, 2021).
Cigarette use among youths has immediate and long-term damaging effects due to nicotine addiction. Young adults are more sensitive to nicotine than adults and depend entirely on it. Essentially, smoking at an early age has a higher nicotine addiction level than smoking at an advanced age (WHO, 2019). Some of the severe health effects of young smokers are lung cancer, esophageal cancer, cardiovascular complications, and reduction in lung growth and functions.
Characteristics of Hypothetical Individual
A 21-year-old male smoker is a hypothetical individual in this scenario. The man started smoking cigarettes at the age of 14 years while still in high school and has not left smoking. It is not easy for him to quit smoking due to a high level of nicotine addiction. He undergoes a lot of health problems, such as suffering from lung cancer, and most of his income is directed to the purchase of tobacco products. The agreed-upon health goal for this individual is to reduce nicotine intake. Thus, the best way to reduce the nicotine level is by cutting down smoking habits step by step. He should get proper training and medical treatment, like a nicotine patch, to start the quitting process. Cigarette smokers can use cessation counseling or medications approved by the FDA to cease smoking (CDC, 2021). It would be prudent for the victims to be willing in the quitting process to achieve this goal.
Predisposition to Tobacco Use
Young people are involved in tobacco use due to health disparities ranging from environmental to social and economic factors. Socioeconomic factors, such as low income, unemployment, poor education, and exposure to social and physical stress, result in health disparities, increasing the rate of tobacco smoking (Kalkhoran et al., 2018). The social problems in the community contribute to the tobacco smoking rate. Intuitively, tobacco smoking is caused mainly by influence from other people within your life circle. For example, young adults having friends or living with smokers as family members have higher chances of smoking due to the strong influence.
Development of Sociogram
The sociogram consists of various smoking cessation programs to motivate individuals to quit smoking. The smoking cessation plan aims to improve patient treatment outcomes or encourage them to quit smoking (Healthy People 2030, 2020).
Continuous medications and smoking cessation counseling would help the smoker stop being a nicotine addict and develop positive attitudes toward quitting. The victims will have to change their lifestyle behaviors and adjust to life without smoking. The patient should be ready to stop smoking habits, which come with severe withdrawal symptoms. It can take at least two months for the symptoms to stop based on how long it takes for nicotine to leave the body (Kalkhoran et al., 2018). Smoking cessation requires an elaborate plan to deal with numerous situations triggering the urge to smoke and coping with cravings through firm decisions to quit.
A quit-smoking plan requires an individual to set expectations, identify support needed, practice coping skills, prepare for withdrawal symptoms, and get motivated. The clarity for quitting should consider the possible social, economic, and cultural aspects of life concerning tobacco smoking. Reasons that can be developed to help stop are improving health and lowering the risk of smoking-related diseases in the future (Kalkhoran et al., 2018). Other reasons for leaving include not exposing family members or friends to become passive smokers and saving money for necessary additional expenditures. Many strategies are tailored to reduce the use of nicotine products and prevent smoking.
Conclusion
Tobacco use is a serious health concern among young adults, and its effects are felt in the whole community. The targeted population is young adults below 25 years, college students, American Indians, and unemployed people with an annual household income of less than $35,000. The hypothetical individual considered in this case is a 21-year-old male smoker who started smoking at 14 years. He has a high level of nicotine addiction but is willing to reduce nicotine intake by starting a quitting process. Tobacco use is mainly caused by influence from people within the life circle, such as family members and friends. Smoking cessation programs target to encourage smokers to quit smoking by using strategies to reduce nicotine products and prevent smoking.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Web.
Healthy People 2030. (2020). Tobacco Use. Web.
Kalkhoran, S., Benowitz, N. L., & Rigotti, N. A. (2018). Prevention and treatment of tobacco use: JACC health promotion series. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(9), 1030-1045.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2019: Offer help to quit tobacco use. World Health Organization.