Reducing Youth Smoking

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the issue of smoking among minors, in general and specific environments is particular. The basic argument of the current research investigation is that NYC has appropriate bans and restrictions in effect which work towards preventing smoking among minors, resulting in a reduction of smoking, but that minors still need to be educated as to the dangers.

Outline:
Introduction
Smoking among minors and education
Laws against minors purchasing tobacco
Socio-economic differences
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Addressing the issue of smoking among minors, in general and specific environments, is advocated. The basic argument of the current research investigation is that NYC has appropriate bans and restrictions in effect which work towards preventing smoking among minors, resulting in a reduction of smoking among minors. Smoking is a problem because it has been linked to cancer, especially lung cancer, and second hand smoke has become a much bigger issue, particularly in NYC where a ban on smoking exists in bars and restaurants. "More people die of lung cancer domestically than many other forms of cancer combined, including prostrate cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer (Griese, 2003). There are many efforts in the US to increase the public's knowledge about Lung Cancer, including Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, but still, the public mostly tends to think of lung cancer in terms of its being a risk that is carried only by people who continue to smoke cigarettes. Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, but it is not the only cause. And the seriousness of smoking as a cause should not be diminished in any way, since, smoking is known to shorten the lives of people by up to fifteen years, and that females are more vulnerable than males to lung cancer from smoking (Griese, 2003). But there are ethical issues involved in focusing too much on lung cancer and smoking because there are many other ways that people can contract lung cancer, including environmental variables like pollution near industrial sites and toxic waste dumps. "Social issues often spark unfounded claims cloaked in the reason of science. But the debate over smoking, politically packaged around the emotional subject of the health of children, is charged with hyperbole, some experts say. Politicians and policy makers have tossed out dozens of estimates about the impact of various strategies on youth smoking, figures that turn out to be based on projections rather than fact" (Politics, 2008). This report focuses on youth and minor smoking in the NYC area."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Activists Push for Smoking Ban (2000). Newsday. http://no-smoking.org/jan02/01-08-02-4.html.
• Griese, N.G. (2003). New Hope: How Even Smokers Can Avoid Lung Cancer. New York: Anvil Press.
• Martin and Thienemann (2005). Group CBT therapy with family involvement for middle school age children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development.
• McCrory, D.C., Colice, G.L., S.Z. Lewis, et. al (2003, January). Overview of methodology for lung cancer evidence review and guideline development. Chest.
• Singh, G. (2002). Ethnic-immigrant differentials in health behaviors, morbidity, and cause-specific mortality in the United States: An analysis of two national data bases. Human Biology.

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