QUIT SMOKING: UNDERSTANDING SALIENT ISSUES SURROUNDING SMOKERS

Anyone willing to quit smoking or working to help others to quit need to have good understanding of some salient issues about smoking. These issues concern what led them to smoking, what are they gaining from the act, what are the perceived losses of quitting smoking and what have made it difficult for them to quit.

Definitely, the responses and findings on above issues are going to be different from one person to the other. However, we shall examine them from four basic perspectives: social, religious, economic and physical.

Social
One of the greatest addictions to smoking is one that is formed on social bond. Many youth took to smoking due to examples from their sibling, parents, neighbours, school colleagues, co-workers, peer pressure etc. The gain to them is not really in the smoking act itself but the feeling of belonging they derived. The obstacle to quitting will be the loss of fellowship, togetherness and all that their relationships stand for. Take for example two sisters that are both smokers and living together. The social bond between them will make the effect of any medical therapy been offered to one of them non-effective. It will be easier if such bond could be broken. A way out is to extend such to the two at the same time. So, here the understanding of the social connection will be of immense importance to whoever is trying to help them quit smoking.

Religious
While this may sound strange to some, it is quite common knowledge that many people do one thing or the other as they consider them to be in line with their religion or not against it. Many have held on to the stick on the ground that it is not against their religious practices. This could be a great barrier to their quitting smoking either on their own or being assisted by any social worker. While we may not be able to rewrite the tenets of religions, we have to appeal to the reason of these set beyond application of scientific solutions. This is an uphill task but the more important is for any social worker to be able to identify this as the major hindrance to their quitting.

Economic
One of the greatest impediments to the acquisition of anything in life is its cost. As long as the cost of cigarettes is considered an insignificant thing, the smoker will not really value any appeal to quit. To him, it does not cost nor stop him from maintaining a living. The social worker must think of ways of presenting the cost of smoking to the smoker in a manner that he will appreciate and value. One of this is to evaluate the alternative cost of smoking. This includes better things that others of his colleagues are doing with money (this should be things that he will actually value), cost of treatment of smoking-related diseases and the wastefulness.

Physical
Many are attracted to smoking by the mere act of puffing. The idea of not seen themselves puffing like their colleagues is a great headache to them. They feel good and on top of the world by such act. Such set of smokers are going to find it difficult to quit smoking as long as they see others puffing. These categories are better helped by ex-smokers.

The above has only tried to look at some issues surrounding smoking and why it is a difficult thing to quit and the challenges facing the social workers. Moreso is the fact that the various factors are not isolated cases as most smokers are likely to be bound to the stick by all or some of these factors. However, a good understanding of the background of smokers, present social situation and environment will be of great asset to whoever is going to be instrumental to their quitting the act.