Discussion response RE: cigarette
This is just a paragraph or two response to a discussion I submitted. I posted my discussion first, then my professors response after.
Alcohol and tobacco are two drugs which are often abused together and are among the major causes of preventable deaths in America. Extant research shows that the
predisposition to use the two drugs hand in hand flows either way. The impacts and health consequences of abusing the two drugs impact both the individual and the
society as a whole. The first incidence may fall directly on the user but ultimately the family which is a part of the society has to bear the cross also (McKenzie &
Pinger, 2014). It is for this reason that it is only plausible to largely disagree with the statement, “Tobacco use and alcohol abuse are more individual problems than
societal issues, so the responsibility for smoking cessation or alcohol treatment belongs to the individual”.
Yes, the decisive responsibility to quit or continue lies with the individuals who feel the strain financially, emotionally, physically, mentally, physiologically and
relationship wise among others. Research shows that those who accept their abuse of the two drugs and are willing to quit through necessary interventions have high
success rates. This does not however disqualify the society from taking the responsibility to help the affected persons quit or seek treatment. The menace brought
about by alcohol and tobacco use cuts across the person and the community as it is a public health concern (McKenzie & Pinger, 2014).
For example, while the individual may suffer from related diseases, experience injury or die, the same may happen to the society as well. Tobacco use is a behavior
which affects the family and the society through second hand smoke which is regarded to as the most dangerous. It causes different types of cancers and respiratory
disorders which affect even non-smokers who have to seek treatment from societal supported facilities. Mothers who smoke even have the ability to impact their innocent
unborn babies who suffer birth smoke related problems even before they join the society. At times smokers have been known to cause fires in cases where they forgot to
put out the cigarette or threw the burning filter remnants among flammable materials (NIDA, 2016).
Alcoholism might seem a personal problem for the many drunks around us but it is not for sure. Alcohol abuse is a serious societal problem which requires the
involvement of the community. From drunken driving, violence, homelessness, child abuse, joblessness, ineducation to death, alcohol is culpable. It is not ones we have
heard that a drunken driver killed a dozen of innocent motorists or pedestrians due to the effects of alcohol. Significant cases of child abuse have also been
associated with alcoholic parents or guardians (Hales, 2014). The vulnerable in the society such as the homeless are more than often associated to alcoholism. Finally,
some brilliant minds in our communities have lost their much neededproductivity capabilities due to the bottle. It is therefore the responsibility of the individual to
quit but the society needs to play its role to support such persons and other sufferers(McKenzie & Pinger, 2014).
References
Hales, D. (2014). An Invitation to Health (16 ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
McKenzie, J. F., & Pinger, R. R. (2014). An Introduction to Community & Public Health.Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
NIDA. (2016). Magnitude. Retrieved from http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/magnitude/
Hi Heidi,
Do you think the laws regarding drunk driving and use of or the ability to purchase alcohol are stringent enough? The U.S. has one of the highest rates of alcholism,
yet it has one of the most stringent set of rules. For example, the legal drinking age for French people is currently 16. Some experts believe the legal drinking age
should be lowered for the purpose of allowing parents to teach their children about drinking and minimize a person’s desire to sneak off and partake and possible abuse
alcohol. Your thoughts?
Sincerely,
Dr. Edwards
Reference:
Griggs, B. (2015). Should the U.S. lower its drinking age? Available at: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/16/us/legal-drinking-age/index.html
