Dr Richard Edwards (Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology, University of Otago) argues on ethically grounded research, that we need new approaches to eradicating smoking from our society. This will require a re-framing of the public discourse and pursuing practical public policies geared to achieving clear goals. He advances six ‘radical’ solutions to get there.
http://dosomething.org.nz
Introduction to Sports Injuries by- Dr. Anjali Rai
Richard Edwards on smoking in New Zealand
1. Do something! Tobacco smoking in New Zealand – where are we now and where should we be going? Richard Edwards Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit (HePPRU) Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington
10. Tobacco industry and secondhand smoke/smoke free public places “ The anti-smoking forces’ latest tack … on the passive smoking issue … is quite a different matter. What the smoker does to himself may be his business, but what the smoker does to the non-smokers is quite a different matter …. This we see as the most dangerous development to the viability of the tobacco industry that has yet occurred” Tobacco Institute, 1978 Secondhand smoke is “probably the single most important challenge we face.” Vice Chair of Phillip Morris (W Murray), 1989
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13. 1950 Epidemiologic Evidence Richard Doll & A. Bradford Hill ( British Medical Journal UK) Smoking and Carcinoma of the Lung; Preliminary Report “ We therefore conclude that smoking is a factor, and an important factor , in the production of carcinoma of the lung.”
47. Paradigms Evidence of success Evidence required for intervention Intervention Types of evidence Public/policy-maker view Type Frame ‘ Pro-smoking’ influences e.g. PoS displays Asbestos/dioxin Exposure
48. Protection, precautionary principle Paradigms Removal of exposure Evidence of success Presence of exposure Evidence required for intervention Remove Intervention Toxicological, epidemiological Types of evidence Any exposure = unacceptable Public/policy-maker view Environmental toxin Type Poison Frame ‘ Pro-smoking’ influences e.g. PoS displays Asbestos/dioxin Exposure
49. Cautionary principle, balanced, evidence-based Protection, precautionary principle Paradigms Reduced uptake, increased quitting, reduced prevalence, no/minimal adverse effects Removal of exposure Evidence of success Exp/outcome, intervention effectiveness, lack of adverse effects Presence of exposure Evidence required for intervention Policy measures e.g. PoS regulations, PoS ban Remove Intervention Epidemiological – exp/outcome (strong), intervention/outcome (probable but incomplete) Toxicological, epidemiological (NB v. weak for low exposure) Types of evidence Possible cause of uptake (what’s the evidence?) Any exposure = unacceptable Public/policy-maker view Potential influence on behaviour Environmental toxin Type Risk factor Poison Frame ‘ Pro-smoking’ influences e.g. PoS displays Asbestos/dioxin Exposure
But smoking is going down isn’t it? It soon won’t be a problem. Yes it is – but very slowly, and most slowly among those most affected.
Smokers would like to stop but are mostly far too optimistic about how quickly they will be able to do it. The chart shows that more than half of all smokers believe they will stop within two years (upper line). However, if recent history is a guide, only about 6% will stop in two years. The lower line shows the proportion of smokers that quit in the last two years looking backwards. [91]
NB Previous investigations in Germany, and also in US by Wynder and Graham, 1950
In addition to objective measures such as taxable sales and employment and surveys of consumers, surveying restaurant owners is another method for assessing the economic impact of smoke-free regulations. In this NYC newspaper article, many Staten Island (Richmond) restaurant owners claim their business was lower after the NYC regulations took effect. Note, however, that per-capita job growth in Richmond in the years after the law took effect was greatest in Richmond (see slide 18).
Countering opinion article in the New York City press highlighting the rights of smokers.
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