Community Interventions Smoking Vaping

Notably, e-cigarettes or vapes have become a pertinent health issue, especially in the younger demographic in the United States ( Pastrana, M. 2019). Macomb County is home to the suburban hamlet of Fraser, Michigan. Ideally, the population of Fraser is diversified, consisting of pensioners, young professionals, and families. At the same time, there is a mix of residential and commercial areas in the mostly middle-class suburb. In the same vein, Fraser offers various healthcare facilities, such as local hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics, in terms of healthcare infrastructure. Likewise, it is important to note that while employment possibilities are available, socioeconomic gaps remain with respect to the social determinants of health. Different housing situations have an impact on general health results. The primary focus of this essay is to provide community interventions on smoking, vaping, or e-cigarettes in line with a Windshield survey of Fraser Town, most importantly from a nurses` perspective.

After an extensive and conclusive analysis of the Windshield survey based on the context of Fraser, it is imperative to acknowledge the strengths and vulnerabilities.

In terms of strengths,

• Fraser demonstrates strong community involvement by actively participating in neighborhood associations and local events.
• There is a strong spirit of cooperation and pride in the Fraser community
• .
• Fraser Town’s employment index and rate are relatively impressive compared to her neighbors.

In terms of vulnerabilities

• There is elevated prevalence of e-cigarettes and smoking among adults and teenagers. ( Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.)
• The chemicals and nicotine in e-cigarettes, which are frequently promoted as a safer option, pose significant harm to the health of individuals.
• However, little is known about the risks associated with vaping and how it affects health.
• At the same time, there exists inadequate knowledge of smoking cessation techniques.
• Aerosols and secondhand smoke exposure in public areas that is detrimental to the health of passive smokers.
• Inadequate restrictions or stringent regulations on smoking in some public spaces.

In relation to the teaching needs

• When it comes to teaching children about the dangers of using e-cigarettes, school-based interventions are essential. Effective anti-vaping messaging delivery in the classroom requires training for educators and other school personnel.
• Workshops or seminars can be arranged to help educators better understand e-cigarettes, their health impacts, and methods for preventing student usage.
• Training programs for volunteers, counselors, and community health workers can concentrate on supporting healthy behaviors, dispelling myths, and providing factual information.
• To reach a larger audience, public health campaigns are crucial. Expert advice is required for educators, medical professionals, and community members to produce effective teaching resources. (Grier et al. 2005)
• Healthcare practitioners (physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) should be holistically sensitized on the perils of e-cigarettes, effective cessation methods, and counseling tools.
• Programs for continuing medical education (CME) can include issues pertaining to e-cigarettes and offer healthcare professionals evidence-based practices.
• Legislators and community leaders need to realize how critical it is to have laws in place that shield non-users from aerosol exposure from e-cigarettes.
• Parents and retailers alike should be aware of the influence flavored e-cigarettes have on young people starting to use them.
• People in the community who work in retail or distribution should be aware of the regulations regarding e-cigarette product labels.
• Most importantly, the scope of training should involve sensitization on the labels with health warnings, ingredient disclosure, and consumer education.

It is noteworthy that adults and adolescents in Fraser Town have high rates of vaping, using electronic cigarettes, and smoking. Conversely, because they contain chemicals like nicotine, e-cigarettes, which are typically promoted as a safer option, can be harmful to your health. The health disparities brought about by vaping are exacerbated by a lack of awareness regarding the risks involved and the effects it has on one’s well-being (Capponetto, P. 2020). Above all, the lax laws against smoking in public places are a direct threat to the safety of nonsmokers.

In light of the aforementioned information, the top three vulnerabilities for the community include;

• Priority 1: Limited public information or awareness on the health risks associated with smoking e-cigarettes.
• Priority 2: Lax laws against public smoking not only endanger nonsmokers but glorify e-cigarettes, thus increasing their consumption in the community.
• Priority 3: High rates of smoking vaping due to the erroneous perception that e-cigarettes are a safer option to tobacco smoking.

Priority concern: Based on the increase in smoking habits, particularly of e-cigarettes.

Long-term goal: Reduce the percentage of Fraser residents who smoke and vape by 20% by the end of the following year. In accordance with SMART criteria,

• Specific: Address vaping as well as smoking.
• Measurable: Use surveys and medical data to monitor changes in smoking and vaping rates.
• Achievable: Work together with neighborhood healthcare facilities, community centers, and schools.
• Relevant: Talk about a vital public health concern.
• Timed: Complete this reduction in less than a year.

The following entails Short-term goals geared toward achieving the long-term goal of reducing smoking prevalence by 20% by the end of next year. 

• Short-term goal 1: It is imperative to think about launching educational efforts. In this case, it is logical to consider creating seminars, informational booklets, and school presentations to enlighten the public domain. This can be achieved by encouraging the local schools to include anti-smoking and anti-vaping instruction in their curricula.
• Short-term goal 2: Organizing workshops on smoking cessation strategies with a focus on the negative effects of vaping is a feasible interim objective. This could unilaterally involve parents, young people, and community leaders in these discussions.
• Short-term goal 3: Working with city authorities to strengthen smoke-free policies in public spaces is a feasible short-term aim that aligns with policy advocacy. In essence, this may also entail supporting more stringent laws governing the marketing and sales of e-cigarettes.

In implementing teaching to meet these goals, it is important to consider a pragmatic approach, especially with the young generation. Firstly, learners from various schools can be engaged in an essay writing competition based on the detrimental effects of e-cigarettes. This will be an eye-opener regarding learners’ perception: do they think smoking is `cool` or not? Moreover, it is essential to take into account forming a youth-led organization opposed to vaping and smoking.

Peer-to-peer learning should also be encouraged as it is a practical way to guarantee that knowledge is preserved. For the teachers, audio-visual content can be used to share the importance of advocating for a decrease in e-cigarette use. It is also important to inform policymakers of the effects of e-cigarettes. This could be achieved through official letters.

To achieve these goals, it is imperative to consider identifying a target audience, which, in this case, includes middle and high school students as well as parents, teachers, and community members. Above all, informing lawmakers, nearby businesses, especially the retailers and distributors of e-cigarettes or tobacco-related products, and healthcare practitioners is critical. During routine visits, schools, community centers, local events, and healthcare facilities could be the venues for information dissemination. It would be wise to ensure the people receiving the information are at ease and not being questioned. It is also an excellent opportunity to think about planning outreach events and distributing booklets.

Younger people are the target audience for these events aimed at breaking down the impact of e-cigarettes and how to cope with peer influence, which is the most significant causative agent of smoking addiction. Collaborating with community organizations, local government, and schools would be ideal to obtain the greatest impact.To work together on health education projects that would ultimately produce the best results, community partners could include Fraser Community Health Center. At the same time, it is wise to get in touch with the Mayor’s Office and City Council to support policy reforms.

In conclusion, it is critical to appreciate that Fraser’s well-being depends on addressing smoking and vaping; thus, moving with a sense of urgency is important. We can establish a smoke-free, healthier environment through goal implementation, information dissemination, and cooperation with community partners.

The younger demographic should not be ostracized for being active or former users of e-cigarettes( Aaron et 2021). Criticizing them for their `guilty pleasures` would derail engagements with them or ruin the rehabilitation of active users. Community health providers must also show empathy and work tirelessly to rid the tightly-knit community of an existential threat. All partners must work cohesively to empower Fraser locals and encourage long-lasting change.

References

Aaron, D. G. (2021). Tobacco reborn: the rise of e-cigarettes and regulatory approaches. Lewis & Clark L. Rev., 25, 827.

Caponnetto, P. (2020). Well-being and harm reduction, the consolidated reality of electronic cigarettes ten years later from this emerging phenomenon: A narrative review. Health Psychology Research, 8(3).

Grier, S., & Bryant, C. A. (2005). Social marketing in public health. Annu. Rev. Public Health, 26, 319-339.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). E-Cigarettes

Pastrana, M. (2019). Electronic Cigarettes: Addiction and Physiological Effects within Adolescents and Young Adults.