How Big Businesses Exploit Smokers

 

Introduction:

Smoking constitutes one of the most problematic health and social issues facing the modern society. The world Health Organisation states that tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world, with smoking related illnesses killing about 5 million people yearly world-wide. The need to eradicate this menace has therefore become expedient now than ever. In order to do this, the factors which influence people to smoke must be identified together with the interventions that can be made so as to prevent or stop people from smoking. vape clearance uk

Influences and Interventions in Smoking

Smoking is influenced at four different levels; the individual, the family, the locality and the society at large.

At the individual level, different factors lead different people to smoking. Most of the time, people start smoking by trying to experiment something new but eventually get hooked in the progress.

For example, Wade, an American heavy smoker claimed to have started smoking at about 16 when it was important to be willing to try new and somewhat forbidden things. Because of the addictive nature of cigarette, Wade became habitual smoker. He found it difficult to stop smoking despite his awareness of the dangers of smoking, having lost his uncle who died from a smoking related illness. As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. The best intervention effective at this level is that which can prevent the individual from ever thinking to start smoking at all. This is why education and public enlightenment are very important. The individuals, especially the teenagers should be discouraged from smoking by making them realise the dangers inherent in it. kik e liquid

The family influence in smoking must not also be overlooked. Some individuals start smoking by imitating their parents. Seeing the father or the mother smoke, the child may think that smoking is good. This happened to Wade mentioned above, who described his father as a two pus pack per day man. Bearing this in mind, the parents must be of good examples to their children. A non-smoking parent will have the confidence to tell his children point blank that smoking is bad and dangerous. Moreover, while trying to quit smoking, a cigarette addicted parent must constantly warn his children not to take after him and express his frustration and efforts to stop as quick as possible. kik e cig

The locality also has its own influence on smoking. This includes the neighbourhood, peer group, school and office mates. Belonging to a smoking peer group can influence the individual to start smoking. For example, thirteen-year old Craig, a school student in Swansea, started smoking along with some of his classmates, thinking that smoking is and that those who tell him to stop only dont want to recognise that he is growing up. v juice

The intervention at this level must be tricky and multifaceted. Craig for instance would neither listen to his parents nor wear a nicotine patch. Therefore, his non-smoking brother, sister or cousin must step in. In addition, his school could even join a smoking prevention programme as a way of discouraging young people in their early teens from experimenting with tobacco or help them break the habit. vape shop

At the societal level, the strongest influence on smoking is the big tobacco companies. Many efforts of the government to tackle the problem of smoking have always been rendered ineffective by the activities of the big tobacco companies. For instance, researchers have long established the link between smoking and cancer but the full facts have always been blocked by giant tobacco companies. They did not only reject the scientific evidence linking smoking with cancer, but also concealed the fact that they were adding substances to cigarettes to make them more addictive. best vape starter kit uk

According to BBC report, tobacco companies add ammonia compounds to cigarettes to speed up the delivery of nicotine to the brain. Added also are the chemicals that strengthen nicotine impact on the brain and the central nervous system. The tobacco companies have also found a way of increasing the nicotine content of cigarettes. best vaping kit uk

In addition, tobacco companies use sophisticated advertisement strategies to hook new smokers. They have invested very heavily in advertising trying to portray cigarettes as glamorous and desirable. Apart from targeting different groups of people like teenagers and women, they also know how to tap into different cultures. For instance, in Latin America they use images of sexy women while they use successful young men with western lifestyle in pakistan. vape shop online uk

The intervention used in the western world in this regard such as court action against big tobacco companies as well as banning cigarette advertising and prohibiting smoking at work and in public places are helping in reducing the level of smoking in the society. vape starter kit uk

Conclusion

Smoking is influenced at different levels. These are the individual, family, locality and society. I have stated different interventions that I think can be effective at this levels. I consider the big tobacco as the strongest influence at the societal level. Among other measures, banning cigarette advertising and prohibition of smoking at work and in public places are the most effective interventions in this regard.