4. Hazen, Arkansas
The population of Hazen, Arkansas is 1,425. I run two to three times a week
in my neighborhood. I see various age groups smoking cigarettes each and
every time. Hazen is a small town where everyone knows everyone.
Unfortunately, many people feel as though the use of tobacco does not cause
any harm or they believe it won’t happen to them. However, if you read the
warning label on a pack of cigarettes, the truth is in fine print. The label says
“smoking may be hazardous to your health”. Hazardous is defined as involving
risk or danger. Consequently, this label is not enough of a deterrent for most
people. We need more education provided to our youth to prevent smoking. We
also need more education provided to current tobacco users on health concerns
and how to quit. We, as community nurses, can help prevent tobacco use and
help people quit smoking.
5. Facts about Tobacco
• Tobacco is harmful to smokers and nonsmokers.
• Nicotine dependence is the most addictive form of chemical dependence
(“CDC,” 2013).
• There is more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke with an estimated 250
chemicals known to be harmful (“NCI,” 2011).
• Out of these 250 chemicals, 69 of these chemicals cause cancer (“NCI,” 2011).
• These chemicals include: arsenic, benzene, chromium, beryllium, cadmium,
ethylene oxide, nickel, vinyl chloride, butadiene, polonium (“NCI,” 2011).
• Other chemicals suspected to cause cancer include: formaldehyde,
benzopyrene, toluene (“NCI,” 2011).
6. Facts about Tobacco
• Smoking is the leading cause of cancer and death from cancer (“NCI,” 2011).
• Cigarette smoking has been linked to various cancers including: lung,
esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, and stomach
(“NCI,” 2011).
• Smoking also causes heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and aortic aneurysm
(“NCI,” 2011).
• Secondhand smoking can cause diseases and death in adults and children
(“NCI,” 2011).
• Smoking and exposure to smoking causes 440,000 premature deaths every
year in the United States (“NCI,” 2011).
7. Tobacco: Arkansas vs. National Level
• The state of Arkansas ranks 49th in the use of cigarettes (“CDC,” 2013).
• The percentage of adults (18 and older) who smoke in the state of Arkansas
is 27% (“CDC,” 2013).
• The percentage of adults who smoke the United States is 29% (“CDC,” 2013).
• The state of Arkansas ranked 46th in the use of smokeless tobacco (“CDC,”
2013).
• The use of smokeless tobacco in adults was 7.1% (“CDC,” 2013).
• On a national level, the use of smokeless tobacco was 4.4% (“CDC,” 2013).
8. Plan:
• Host an education session at the community center in Hazen on August 2,
2014.
• Invite everyone in my neighborhood to the session. I will provide
refreshments for all who attend the meeting.
• Involve teachers in my area to aid me in hosting the educational session.
• Host the educational session from 1-3 p.m.. My goal is for all who attend to
take away helpful information to prevent smoking in our youth and to aid in
assisting smokers in quitting.
• Have brochures available for people to take home to read after the meeting.
• Provide my neighborhood with accurate information about tobacco use.
9. Plan:
• Since the government has increased tobacco taxes there has been a decrease
in tobacco use (Marr & Hung, 2014),
• It is estimated that each 1% increase in prices will lead to a 1% decrease in
smokers (Marr & Huang, 2014).
• Arkansas passed a law in 2006 that prohibited smokers from smoking in a
car with a child < 6 years of age or < 60 lbs ("ANR," 2014).
• In 2011, a new law was passed that prohibited smokers from smoking in a
car with a child <14 years of age ("ANR," 2014).
• The federal government and state government is in full support of
preventing smoking and aiding smokers in quitting tobacco use.
• Our teachers and community nurses can aid in preventing smoking in our
youth and helping tobacco users quit.
10. Implementation:
• Hosting an educational session is a very important project. I had to be
thoroughly prepared for various questions and concerns. I ensured I had an
adequate amount of insightful information printed for people to take home
after the session was over. I wanted people to understand the harms of
tobacco and health concerns associated with tobacco use.
• I handed out information to help quite tobacco use, which included:
1-800-QUIT-NOW – State hotline
1-877-44U-QUIT – National Cancer Institute hotline
Smokefree.gov – This website develops a plan based on the needs of the individual
Printable brochures
• There are so many sites dedicated to ending tobacco use. The information is
at anyone’s fingertips at any time.
• People have to make the choice whether to begin using tobacco and when to
quit using tobacco.
11. Evaluation:
• Overall, it was successful. There was around 15 people from my
neighborhood that came to the meeting. Everyone was grateful for
the refreshments. Everyone who attending had plenty of questions.
There were 5 current tobacco users. Only 2 out of 5 were interested
in quitting. I gave them information and hotline numbers to help
them during the process of quitting tobacco use. Many people who
attended were older and were interested in information for their
grandchildren. I handed out brochures and printouts for all
attendees. This was a great project, which allowed me to talk with
people in my neighborhood about tobacco use.
12. SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
• There is an unlimited amount of
information regarding the effects of
tobacco.
• There are numerous ways to get help
when deciding to quit, such as
hotlines, brochures, websites, and
community groups.
Opportunities:
• Improve awareness of the effects of
tobacco use.
• Be involved with the community.
Weaknesses:
• Nicotine is an addiction.
• People have to make the ultimate
decision to quit tobacco use.
Threats:
• Companies marketing tobacco in
appealing ways.
• The overall effects of tobacco use
short term and long term.
13. Reflection
• Overall, I was pleased with my community project. I
gained insightful information regarding tobacco use. I
learned about the effects of tobacco use. I was able to
share educational information with my community. With
this project, I will be able to educate my patients more
efficiently regarding tobacco use and quitting.
Consequently, people have to make the final decision
regarding tobacco use. We can only provide the
information necessary for the community to decide
whether or not to use tobacco. If they currently use
tobacco, we can equip them with the tools to quit tobacco.
14. References:
• Harms of smoking and health benefits from quitting. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation
• Marr, C., & Huang, C. (2014). Higher tobacco taxes can improve health and
raise revenue. Retrieved from http://www.cbpp.org/files/6-19-13tax.pdf
• Smoke free cars. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.no-
smoke.org/learnmore.php?id=616
• Smoking and tobacco use. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/index.htm
