Global Tobacco Control

Name

Institutional Affiliation

Introduction
Tobacco refers to a product obtained from the leaves of a tobacco plant and users ingest the drug in different ways such as smoking, chewing and sniffing (Méndez, Alshanqeety, & Warner, 2013). This drug causes harmful effects on the users and even those around them thus becoming a global issue (Egger, Spark, & Donovan, 2013). Having seen the effects of tobacco globally, role of health practitioners in tobacco control and the regulation stands out as an important discussion (Chaloupka, Yurekli, & Fong, 2012). This paper explores the control measures that need consideration across the globe. The paper reflects on the work of a public health practitioner and the barriers facing them in implementing of the tobacco control measures.
Global tobacco control
This is the practice of managing the nature of tobacco usage by people since obacco related deaths and diseases continue increasing because of the increased usage of tobacco (Méndez, Alshanqeety, & Warner, 2013). WHO, (2013) identifies various effects of tobacco, such as pulmonary disease, cardiac diseases on long-term users, and deaths. Cancer is a major tobacco related disease (Chaloupka, Yurekli, & Fong, 2012). The Centre of Tobacco Control works towards the reduction of global burden associated with tobacco-related deaths and diseases (Levy, de Almeida, & Szklo, 2012). Global tobacco control is conducted through public health programs and policies, research, and public training (Freeman, 2012). Different tobacco control interventions are implemented across the globe (Levy, de Almeida, & Szklo, 2012). The civil public, NGOs, governments, and individual in collaboration with health practitioners do the practice (Jemal, Bray, Center, Ferlay, Ward, & Forman, 2011).
Role of health practitioners in tobacco control
Health practitioners are majorly involved in the provision of educating the society on the effects of tobacco smoking to both users and passive smokers (Levy, de Almeida, & Szklo, 2012). I would focus on the public health policies governing tobacco control in my professional practice (Öberg, Jaakkola, Woodward, Peruga, & Prüss-Ustün, 2011). In my professional practice, I will engage in networking practices and talk to the tobacco addicts offering helpful guidance on what they need to do to avoid smoking tobacco (Freeman, 2012). I understand that it is possible to prevent the tobacco-related deaths by connecting with the smokers, helping them to reform, and enabling them to substitute the substance with other health drinks and foods (Méndez, Alshanqeety, & Warner, 2013).
Challenges faced during global tobacco control practices
I recognise that the control of smoking and tobacco usage is a hard task. As identified by (Chaloupka, Yurekli, & Fong, 2012) it is difficult to identify those people who are at risk of secondhand smoke. It is clear to me that majority of the tobacco users are ignorant of the associated effects to their health (Jemal, et al. 2011). As identified by Egger, Spark, and Donovan, (2013), tobacco addiction theory should be disproved in the control practices. This is one of the challenges I expect to hinder the effectiveness of tobacco control campaign across the globe (Öberg, et al. 2011). Some of the health practitioners are addicts of tobacco and this hinders them to offer an effective control intervention to the other victims (Méndez, Alshanqeety, & Warner, 2013). I recognise that being a good example helps one to effectively teach the learner and change the attitude of the other person (Wilson, Avila Tang, Chander, Hutton, Odelola, Elf, & Apelberg, 2012).
Actions and control measures for an effective global tobacco control
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), American Cancer Society, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Baltimore, and CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health have been applying different strategies to control tobacco smoking worldwide (WHO, 2013). I suggest that all health practitioners need to join organizations and inculcate tobacco control practice as their organizational practice (Jha, & Peto, 2014). To promote an effective tobacco control measure, I think health practitioners need to serve as an example in the society (Chaloupka, Yurekli, & Fong, 2012). I have observed different areas segregated specifically for the smokers and I think this is one way of preventing the tobacco effects to non-smokers (Levy, de Almeida, & Szklo, 2012). However, I think that governments would increase the taxation of tobacco to prevent the affordability to many people (Bilano, Gilmour, Moffiet, d’Espaignet, Stevens, Commar, & Shibuya, 2015). The theories of negligence, power, and truth as identified by Egger, Spark, and Donovan, (2013) should when trying to control tobacco smoking.
Conclusion
To play part in the Global Tobacco Control, I intend to take the possible actions towards tobacco control. I would campaign against tobacco smoking in the social media and other possible media of reaching the public globally. I will educate many people concerning the health, social, and economic risks associated with tobacco smoking.

References
Bilano, V., Gilmour, S., Moffiet, T., d’Espaignet, E. T., Stevens, G. A., Commar, A., … & Shibuya, K. (2015). Global trends and projections for tobacco use, 1990–2025: an analysis of smoking indicators from the WHO Comprehensive Information Systems for Tobacco Control. The Lancet, 385(9972), 966-976.

Chaloupka, F. J., Yurekli, A., & Fong, G. T. (2012). Tobacco taxes as a tobacco control strategy. Tobacco Control, 21(2), 172-180.

Egger, G., Spark, R., & Donovan, R. (2013). Health promotion strategies and methods.(3rd ed). Sydney, Australia: McGraw-Hill Co.

Freeman, B. (2012). New media and tobacco control. Tobacco control, 21(2), 139-144.

Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M. M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E., & Forman, D. (2011). Global cancer statistics. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 61(2), 69-90.

Jha, P., & Peto, R. (2014). Global effects of smoking, of quitting, and of taxing tobacco. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(1), 60-68.

Levy, D., de Almeida, L. M., & Szklo, A. (2012). The Brazil SimSmoke policy simulation model: the effect of strong tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths in a middle income nation. PLoS Med, 9(11), e1001336.

Méndez, D., Alshanqeety, O., & Warner, K. E. (2013). The potential impact of smoking control policies on future global smoking trends. Tobacco control, 22(1), 46-51.

Öberg, M., Jaakkola, M. S., Woodward, A., Peruga, A., & Prüss-Ustün, A. (2011). Worldwide burden of disease from exposure to second-hand smoke: a retrospective analysis of data from 192 countries. The Lancet, 377(9760), 139-146.

Wilson, L. M., Avila Tang, E., Chander, G., Hutton, H. E., Odelola, O. A., Elf, J. L., … & Apelberg, B. J. (2012). Impact of tobacco control interventions on smoking initiation, cessation, and prevalence: a systematic review. Journal of environmental and public health, 2012.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2013). WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2013: enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. World Health Organization.