Impact of Smoking on Public Health in the United Kingdom

This research report discusses the impact of smoking on public health in the United Kingdom, including statistics on deaths and hospital admissions related to smoking. It also explores the success of anti-smoking campaigns and policies, as well as the role of media in raising awareness about the negative effects of smoking. The report concludes that media plays a crucial role in disseminating information and addressing emerging health issues.

Running head: RESEARCH REPORT
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Name of the Student:
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Author Note:

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Introduction:
Smoking and tobacco use have been studied to elicit negative effect on the normal
physiological functioning of the human body. According to the report published by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (2018), it has been stated that smoking causes an
approximate death rate of almost 480,000 every year across the United States of America (West
and Shiffman 2016). In this regard, it should further be stated that smoking has been attributed to
be the root cause of a number of diseases that include respiratory disorders, Diabetes and even
cancer. Intake of Nicotine harms the normal functioning of a majority of organs in the human
body and reduces the longevity of life. As stated by Statistics on Smoking (2018), smoking
causes 90% of deaths related to lung cancer and 80% of deaths are caused as a result of chronic
obstructive pulmonary diseases (statistics on smoking 2018). Considering the present scenario,
research studies reveal that risk of dying on account of smoking has increased over the last 50
years to a significant extent (statistics on smoking 2018). The literary evidences and statistical
figures collected from the research studies clearly indicate that smoking has emerged out to be a
global problem that requires immediate attention for the maintenance of public health and
wellbeing. This paper intends to discuss the impact of smoking on public health in context to
United Kingdom. The paper would critically analyze the public health issue using different
resources retrieved from research studies and social media and present an elaborate discussion
about the impact of the issue on the general health and behavior of the people based at the United
Kingdom.

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Discussion:
According to Rooke and Amos (2014), it has been estimated that on an average
approximately 484,700 hospital admissions take place on account of disorders related to smoking
(Mons et al. 2013). Also, it has been mentioned that 77,900 deaths every year, in the United
Kingdom are attributable to smoking (statistics on smoking 2018). In addition to this, it should
be critically noted that at present, 14.9% of the complete population base of United Kingdom has
been identified as smokers (statistics on smoking 2018). Also, 10.8% of the pregnant women at
the time of their delivery have been reported to be smokers (statistics on smoking 2018).
Cigarette smoking has remained an area of primary concern with regard to public health and
wellbeing for the British Government. In order to address the issue, a number of health policies
have been formulated with the intention of fostering a population that is physically fit and
healthy. Studies indicate the success rate of the policies and anti-smoking campaigns that has led
to a steady decline in the number of smokers. It should be noted here that, smoking is legal in
United Kingdom with some amount of restrictions which ideally holds true for England, Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland (Levy et al. 2013). The UK government has continuously
attempted to reduce the prevalence rate of smoking through public education and awareness
campaigns about the negative impact of smoking. It should be noted here that the NHS at present
offers free of cost aid to smokers who wish to quit smoking and lead a healthy life. As published
by the British Medical Journal it has been stated that Britain’s drive to encourage smokers to quit
smoking has resulted in Britain becoming the world’s first nation to have a significant reduction
in the number of deaths caused because of lung cancer (Lancaster and Stead 2017). It is
interesting to note here that, during 1950s, Britain had the highest number of deaths caused by
lung cancer (statistics on smoking 2018). However, by the end of the year 2000, the death rate

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reduced to almost half of what it had been reported between the time frame of 1950-1965. Also,
the present findings state that the number of smokers have gone down from 15.5% as reported in
the year 2016 to 19.8% as had been reported in the year 2011 (statistics on smoking 2018). In
addition to this, the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy has also reduced from 15.8% as
reported during the year 2006 to 10.8%, however, the percentage is still above the national goal
of limiting the statistical figure to 6% (statistics on smoking 2018). The rationale employed
behind the fixation of the statistical figure to 6% can be attributed to the avoidance o 100,000
new cases of disorders related to smoking along with 35,900 cases of Cancer extending over
twenty years which could effectively save up £ 67,000,000 a year related to medical and social
cost expenditure (Jha et al. 2014).
It should be noted here that the revolution had been a continuous and a lengthy process
that had significantly helped in the promotion of awareness among people about smoking and its
ill effect on health. The awareness had effectively been dissipated to the public domain with the
help of informative bulletins published on print and digital media in line with positive healthcare
policies. Three primary factors can be attributed to have caused the difference that includes age
restriction, other restrictions imposed for public well being and introduction of e-cigarettes. With
special reference to England and Wales, it should be stated that until 1 October, 2007, the
minimum age legalized for the purchasing and consumption of tobacco based products was 16.
However, after the Children and Young Persons Order 2007, came into effect the age bar was
raised to 18 years of age which significantly helped in the reduction of tobacco consumption
among children and young people (Halonen et al. 2014). Also, after the Tobacco and Primary
Medical Services Act, 2010 came into being, the legal age for consumption of tobacco within
Scotland was raised to 18 years of age (Frandsen et al. 2013). In the same way, the legal age had

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been raised to 18 in Northern Ireland as well. In addition to this, smoking within closed
surrounding and workplaces has been declared illegal since 2007 in Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland and England (Frandsen et al. 2013). Further, the display of tobacco products had been
banned in England both within large and small retailer shops. Smoking has also been prohibited
in public vehicles that have children as passengers who are under 18 years of age (Halonen et al.
2014). As an alternative to smoking, the UK government introduced electronic cigarettes
popularly known as e-cigarettes that have significantly helped people to quit smoking. Electronic
cigarettes do not contain tobacco and also does not produce smoke. It has exclusively been
launched to help people quit smoking on a permanent basis (Cahill et al. 2013). The results of an
annual survey indicates that 52% of the 2.9 million people who use e-cigarettes in Britain has
been able to quit smoking completely and now identify themselves as ex-smokers (De Andrade
et al. 2013). This clearly reflects the successful attempt of the British government to spread
effective awareness among people and reduce the percentage of smokers.
As has already been mentioned that the positive results could only be achieved after
creating awareness, it should be noted that that the medium used for disseminating the awareness
also played a crucial role. The platform used for disseminating awareness can be attributed to
print media that include news papers, epidemiological fact sheets, research studies and healthcare
magazines. Also, news reports telecasted on television, radio, social media has helped in
providing information to the people about the critical status of the health issue. The perception
and attitude of people about a specific topic is largely dependent upon what is portrayed by the
print or digital media. The advertisements featuring the utility and advantages of e-cigarettes
helped in convincing a large number of people to opt for the alternative and motivated them to
quit smoking (Bala et al. 2013). In addition to this, the advertisements and success stories shared

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on digital media about significant personalities who could quit smoking to lead a better life
motivated people to give up tobacco intake (Brown et al. 2014). Also, posters and pamphlets
distributed at healthcare organizations and wellness initiatives at workplaces helped in promoting
mass-education about the negative impact of smoking on health and motivated a large number of
people to give up smoking (Beard et al. 2016).
Conclusion:
Therefore to conclude, it can be stated that smoking in United Kingdom had emerged out
to be a problem of great concern. The hike in the prevalence of smokers had effectively been
reduced with the help of effective health care policies and creating mass awareness about the
negative impact of smoking on the physical health of the people. Media played a significant role
in alarming the people about the ill effect of smoking and at the same time was used effectively
to motivate smokers to quit smoking. With the effective use of advertisements of the advantages
of e-cigarettes, the smokers were encouraged to quit smoking. Also, print media in the form of
newsletters and informative bulletins was used to educate people about the high number of death
rates caused due to cancer and other disorders related to tobacco consumption. Hence, it can be
said that media plays an important role in disseminating important information about health
issues to the public domain and at the same time create an awareness to acquire positive outcome
and effectively resolve the fate of the scenario. Therefore, digital media, print media and social
media can be used as powerful tools to acquire mass response and positively address an
emerging issue.

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