Home > For HealthCare Professionals > Letter to health Care Professionals
Dear Health Care Professional:
Tobacco use is a significant issue in our community. As the leading preventable cause of death, it is an area in which health care professionals can have a direct impact. As authority figures, health care professionals play a critical role in both individual care and in increasing public awareness and influencing public attitudes. Because of this, the Health Department and the western Racine County Tobacco Free Coalition would like you to be aware of the results from the western Racine County Youth Tobacco Survey that was completed by middle school students during the 2000-2001 school year. The following table includes results that are indicative of the scope and nature of the problem.
Tobacco Use in western Racine County, Wisconsin
Middle school students, grades 6-8 who: Percentage Ever tried smoking 23.8% Smoked during the last month 5.3% Smoke and want to quit 60.4% Have tried to quit and failed (started again within a month) 37% Smoked on 20 or more days during the past month 1.6% Ever used smokeless tobacco 8.5% Are exposed to second hand smoke at home 42.5% Know that tobacco is a harmful substance 92.5% Never had a parent talk to them about the dangers of tobacco use 26.9% Practiced ways of saying NO to tobacco in school 35.3% Never had a parent talk to them about the dangers of tobacco use 26.9% Additional report information is available at http://www.orghealth/wrc or from the Health Department While adult smoking has generally been decreasing throughout the country in recent years, the trend has slowed or stopped. In contrast, smoking among kids increased steadily throughout much of the 1990s. Although national underage smoking rates finally dropped slightly from 1997 to 1998, they remain at historically high levels. Over the past ten years, the number of kids under 18 in the U.S. who become new daily smokers each year has risen by more than 70 percent. The situation is much the same in Western Racine County.
Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined -- and thousands more die from other tobacco-related causes -- such as fires caused by smoking (more than 1,000 deaths/year nationwide), exposure to second hand smoke (more than 40,000 deaths), and smokeless tobacco use. No good estimates are currently available, however, for the number of Western Racine County citizens who die from these other tobacco-related causes, or for the much larger numbers who suffer from tobacco-related health problems each year without actually dying.
And what are the results of tobacco use locally? Look at the impact in the state of Wisconsin. Each year 7,800 people die from smoking. The number of Wisconsin kids now under 18 who will die from smoking (if current trends continue) is 117,000.
According to the national statistics, there is an alarming increase in tobacco use from middle school to high school. Based on the findings for western Racine County, the percentage of children smoking by the time they are in high school can be expected to increase from 5.3% to over 30%. Clearly, the middle school years are a critical time for youth in making decisions about tobacco use.
As a health care professional, you can make a difference in reducing these risk behaviors. The results may suggest to you ways in which you can have a direct impact. Health care professionals nationwide have taken action based on similar results by:
Talking to clients/patients. Recent national studies have found that only 30% of middle school children have discussed tobacco use with a healthcare professional such as a doctor or a dentist. The best way to reduce the health risks of smoking is to encourage these children to never start. For those who have started and smoke regularly, the majority want to quit. The assistance you can provide them can make the difference between success and failure.
Talking to the parents of clients/patients. Exposure to second-hand smoke is a major health risk for middle school children in the community. Living with someone who smokes is also has been shown to increase the risk of a child deciding to smoke. Health care visits for young children present an opportunity to effect behavioral change among smoking parents. Many parents do not realize that their smoking behavior not only causes illnesses in their children, but also dramatically influences whether their children begin to smoke. Counseling parents with this message might move more parents to attempt to stop smoking.
Being a role model. As a community leader, you have a profound influence on the youth of the community. Studies have shown that health care professionals are almost as influential as parents in role modeling appropriate behaviors. Set an example for our youth by promoting a healthy lifestyle that does not include smoking. Be intolerant of tobacco marketing and permissive attitudes towards its use. If you smoke, consider quitting.
Becoming an active force in the community. There are a variety of legislative initiatives, programs, and services designed to prevent tobacco use and to help those who are already using to quit. There are also opportunities to increase public awareness about this issue.
The staff of the Health Department provides health information, surveillance data, and program resources. The community health threat caused by youth smoking is one that requires not only the Health Department, but also the active involvement of all members of the community, including health care professionals.
Tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The best time to prevent or stop smoking is as early as possible. Please consider acting on this information. You can make a difference.
Note: You can find the complete results of the western Racine County Youth Tobacco Survey and other valuable resources at http://www.orghealth.com/wrc.