Hi Dennis and list
Although I agree with some of your points, I have trouble digesting your
message as it related to the Time magazine article. I read it and the
message I got was in the final paragraph...
'in some ways, a little smoking may be as bad as a lot. Researchers looking
at the lining of blood vessels were surprised to find the same damage
whether the subjects smoked a pack a day or a pack a week. When it comes to
smoking, the odds are always against you.'
As for the contradiction to the Health Belief Model that you referenced
(i.e. most smokers even the heavy ones know that the odds are actually with
them), I agree but it doesn't mean that the poor and marginalized do not
want to try to quit and that if they want to quit they shouldn't be able to
access resources that the 'unpoor' can.
I posted a message some time ago asking if anyone had knowledge of a way to
get free nicoderm patches for someone who is not able to afford it. As I
predicted absolutely no one responded. I am hoping that this second request
will spark some ideas. I know a young female who wants to quit. Two of her
grandparents died of lung cancer related to tobacco and another grandparent
died of lymphoma. Both her parents smoke and her mother has chronic
bronchitis. Even though this young female has only smoked for approximately
4.5 years, she developed asthma and a chronic chough after taking up
smoking. She knows that the odds are with her. She doesn't want to sound
like her mother and grandmother but unfortunately she already does and she's
only 17. She has asked for help and wants the patch and/or nicorette gum.
She's searching for help. Can anyone assist?
Lynn Lavallee
-----Original Message-----
From: Health Promotion on the Internet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Dennis Raphael
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 9:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Why people smoke...
Many of us have trouble understanding why smokers do not listen to our dire
threats about tobacco use. The reason is that most smokers -- even heavy
ones
-- know that the odds are actually with them when it comes down to dying of
lung cancer and other diseases. And when you balance the benefits of
tobacco use -- especially for the poor and marginalized -- with the risks,
smoking can be seen as a rational means of coping.
See the following article from Time magazine.
Dennis Raphael, PhD
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director
School of Health Policy and Management
Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
tel: 416-736-2100, ext. 22134
fax: 416-736-5227
email: [log in to unmask]
website: http://quartz.atkinson.yorku.ca/QuickPlace/draphael/Main.nsf/
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,435982,00.html
Monday, Mar. 24, 2003
What Are Your Odds?
New math for calculating smokers' lung-cancer risk. Don't flunk this quiz By
DAVID BJERKLIE
Smoking seems to bring out the inner statistician in people. Sure, smokers
know their habit can lead to lung cancer, but what are the odds it actually
will? How does smoking a pack a day for 20 years compare in risk with
smoking two packs daily for 40 years? And if you quit, how much do your odds
improve? The results of a study published last week in the Journal of the
National Cancer Institute offer smokers some help
To unsubscribe send one line: unsubscribe click4hp to: [log in to unmask] . To view archives or modify subscription see: http://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/click4hp.html
|
