Ending the Tobacco Epidemic, Coursework Example

Measures to promote evidence-based tobacco-related health policies in USA

Policies that can work efficiently in causing tobacco cessation are those that help smokers to quit smoking completely. This paper gives the measures that are critical in promoting evidence-based tobacco-related health policies in the United States.

One of the measures involves expanding evidence-based comprehensive programs of tobacco control (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010, p.19). These include increasing tobacco products’ prices, implementing smoke-free policies and preventing access to tobacco products by the youth. These efforts are geared towards stopping in the various states of America.

Reducing tobacco-related disparities via interventions targeted in locations, which serve high-risk populations is another measure. These include substance abuse facilities, public housing, correctional institutions and mental health facilities. Others are community health centres, critical access hospitals and rural health clinics (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010, p.19). The reduction of smoking prevalence requires crucial attention to populations, which are overburdened with dependence and use of tobacco. An example for this involves youths and adults suffering from substance abuse disorders and mental illness, homeless individuals and prison inmates.

Another measure involves enhancing comprehensive state cessation services. Those people who use tobacco in the United States have a chance to access cessation assistance through a special number. These individuals wherever they are found in the US can dial 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which is a national portal linking to quitlines in the states.  About 1% to 2% of tobacco victims make use of the service because most people are not aware of the service’s existence (Koh & Sebelius, 2012, P.768). Funding to the states should be increased to increase the ability of the service in order to handle increased call volumes.

Another crucial measure involves increasing state, local and tribal tobacco regulation enforcement (Koh & Sebelius, 2012, P.767). At present the Human and Health Services (HHS) Department have agencies such as SAMHSA, CDC and HIS. These collaborate with local, state and tribal governments in providing research on effective practices, technical assistance and surveillance to facilitate enforcement capacity.

Another measure involves accelerating adoption, in every state, of comprehensive smoke-free laws (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010, p.20). States can enact laws that prohibit smoking in workplaces, bars, restaurants, public vehicles and other public places.

References

Koh, H. K., & Sebelius, K. G. (2012). Ending the tobacco epidemic. JAMA, 308(8), 767-768.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Ending the Tobacco Epidemic: A Tobacco Control Strategic Action Plan for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Washington, DC: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.