As a practitioner it is important to understand that intervention programs like this exist. In addition, if one felt very strongly about this topic it is possible to get involved with the intervention to further influence county wide policies. Ultimately, this can improve the health of your patients, who may be inclined to pass their education on to others.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Smoke Free Fingerlakes
The information I found for this blog comes from www.smokefreefingerlakes.com and details the work of the The Tobacco Action Coalition of the Finger Lakes (TACFL). The TACFL works together with community leaders and the public in the Finger Lakes to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and to promote healthy communities. Funded by the New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program, the TACFL works with policy makers to de-normalize tobacco use and decrease/eliminate exposure to second hand smoke. One method that the TACFL utilizes is to reduce the presence of tobacco in marketing. In addition, TACFL is working to increase the amount of tobacco free stores, and decrease smoking in areas of public access and recreation to decrease second hand smoke exposure and ultimately improve overall air quality. The aforementioned website also provides a link to TobaccoFreeNYS.org which provides a myriad of information regarding tobacco, its effects, strategies to quit etc....
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Chelsey, this program seems like it has the potential to be very effective in influencing the smokers in the Finger Lakes. I found a similar program in Wayne County but one thing I found lacking, that I think this program includes is a plan to reduce the availability of tobacco overall. I think it is absolutely crucial for programs like this to target smokers who have not yet decided to smoke, yet many programs just offer resources to those who have decided to quit. This is an important issue for physicians and health care providers to address with their patients. You make a great point that practitioners need to know about their local resources for smokers in order to offer the best support and information to help them quit.
ReplyDeleteTobacco prevention education is one of the most effective means of improving the health of a community. It is especially important to instill this knowledge to children and teens who are easily influenced by their peers and environment. Tobacco is one of the most addictive substances, yet its cessation is one of the greatest things that one can do to improve their health. Therefore, it's incredibly important to educate the population about its harmful effects. I am glad to see that the Finger Lakes is being proactive about this issue and practicing preventative measures, instead of waiting to deal with the issue when it may be too late.
ReplyDeleteI love this program. Smoking is something that effects not only the smoker but those around them. It is our job as clinicians to offer the education and support to help individuals tackle the challenge of quitting smoking but it is nice to know that there are intervention programs like smoke free finger lakes that are trying to minimize the effects of those smokers on innocent bystanders as well as offer help and support to those who are ready to quit. As a non-smoker I do not fully understand the difficulty of smoking cessation but I do know the burden of second hand smoke. The last thing someone should have to worry about for themselves or their children is second hand smoke when at the park or on a playgound! This program is a triple threat: 1.Help smokers quit; 2. Prevent people from starting to smoke; 3. Minimize second hand smoke. I hope it continues to succeed.
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