Smoking Cessation an Ecological Analysis

Smoking cessation is the process by which a person quits smoking and it a process that can be long and extremely difficult.  Smoking has become a problem in the U.S. and within the last 30 years there has been new information and education used to show the negative effects that smoking has on our health.  Smoking cessation is not something that can be done quickly and easily.  There are processes and tool s that have been designed to make the process more successful.  Using an ecological model to provide information about smoking cessation will allow you to see the different levels of the process and improvements that have been made to help smokers quit this deadly habit.

Smoking Cessation: Intrapersonal level

Smoking cessation is a process that can be stressful and at times it is easier to give up than to push forward.  The process of quitting smoking must first start within, on an intrapersonal level.  People that smoke have both positive and negative attitudes when it comes to quitting.  Smokers most likely know more about the risks and effects than non smokers, therefore they know why quitting is important.  Even if they know why they should quit smoking the benefits they receive from the product outweigh in their mind the damage.  People smoke because it relieves stress temporarily in their lives and they believe without smoking the stress will only increase.  To some the pros outweigh the cons.  The stress of smoking is what stops the quitting process. Quitting can be a long process but it has long lasting beneficial effects that will help to prolong your life.  “Smoking is the most important preventable major risk factor of our number one killer-heart and blood vessel disease” (“How can I,” 2007).

In order to start the quitting process you must decide what your reasons are for quitting.  Write these reasons down and continue to look at them throughout your process.   By looking back on your reasons you will be reinforcing the importance of your recovery. (“How can I,” 2007).

Smoking Cessation: Interpersonal level

The process of quitting smoking is not one that should be done completely alone.  This is a long process that has an effect on everyone in the persons’ life.  Quitting must start by asking yourself questions such as: how is smoking affecting my relationships? How will quitting affect my relationships? (Mermelstein, Cohen, Lichtenstein, & Baer, 1986).

Having a strong support system is key in the success of smoking cessation.  It is important that the support group models behavior that is appropriate for the person that is trying to quit smoking.  Modeling is a psychological way of learning.  People that are trying to quit smoking should surround themselves with non smokers because when they do not see the act of smoking going on around them they will be less likely to engage in the activity.  The people you surround yourself with are just as important to your success because you want to have people that will not add stress to your life.  Stress is one of the main reasons why people smoke and when you eliminate daily stressors in your life you will be less likely to have the urge to smoke.  Sometimes those daily stressors include individuals in your life.  

There are also group therapy sessions that have been created to help aid in the process of quitting.  Group therapy is beneficial because it provides mutual support and opportunity to learn behavior techniques from others that are going through

Smoking Cessation: Institutional level

Across the country there are new ways being created to help enforce the need of smoking cessation.  A new program that is being adopted by many institutions is a money incentive program.  Corporate companies and other business are adopting money incentive programs to have more of their employees stop smoking.  It has been shown that companies lose money from their employees that smoke.  Employees that smoke take more sick days and more breaks then a non smoker.  There is also a loss of productivity for these companies because the health of their employees is compromised. (Nayab, 2010).  Companies are now offering incentives for any of their employees that quit smoking.  These incentives are in the form of cash, gift certificates, benefit enhancements and more.  “World Bank found money might be the most powerful tool to help smokers quit.” (Nayab, 2010)



The American Lung Association has been around for more than 100 years and has been one of the most well known advocates for healthy lungs and healthy air.  The American Lung Association is a great tool for people looking to quit smoking.  Their website offers services to aid smokers in the process.  They even offer different programs for adult and teen smokers. The adult program that is offered is “Freedom from Smoking,” and the teen program that is offered is the “NOT” program, “Not-on-Tobacco.”  This institution is completely dedicated to improving the health of the people and helping in any possible way. (http://www.lungusa.org/)

Freedom from Smoking

Not-on-Tobacco

Smoking Cessation: Community level

There are many sources that have influence over our actions such as: where we live, our family and friends, the media, education and much more.  All of these have influence over whether you will become a smoker or not.  Smoking became popular during a time where the information about the harmful effects was not known.  In the early 1960s smoking was very popular and could be seen all over the country, everyone smoked.  As generations of children grew older they became smokers because that is what they had seen from their parents and the media.  With the improvements of knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking came improvements in prevention and education.  The American lung Association has been a great resource to get information about prevention and the harmful effects of smoking to large amounts of people.  According to the American Lung Association “smoking cessation has increased by over 70% since 1965.”  That is a major improvement but there is still much that can be done to increase that number.  Also according to the American lung Association still 392,000 people die every year from smoking in the U.S.  Without further improvements in prevention and cessation programs this number could increase.

The American Lung Association has annual Lung Walks to raise awareness for lung disease and this brings people in the community together for a wonderful cause.  Not only is money being raised to help fund programs for prevention but it also gives useful tips for smoking cessation and other health related problems.  
American Lung Association: Lung Walk

Smoking Cessation: Public Policy

As a country there have been efforts to control the use of tobacco.  In June 2009 President Obama signed a law that allowed the FDA to have control over tobacco products. ("State of tobacco," 2009) This allows the FDA to have control over advertising and packaging of tobacco products. The FDA has already begun to use negative advertising strategies that show the harmful effects of smoking.



A federal tax on tobacco products has also been put into effect that has increased the price of cigarettes by $1.01 per pack. The tax on tobacco was put into practice to defer people from buying tobacco products because of the increase in price.  This tax is great in theory but it did not work as well as it was thought to.  Cigarettes have nicotine which is the addictive ingredient and when someone is addicted to a drug they will do anything necessary to get it even if it means paying more money. 

On a state level Illinois has put a ban on smoking in public places, much like many other states.  According to the State of Tobacco Control website Illinois received an A for smoke free air on their report card. (“State of tobacco,” 2009) By limiting the places to smoke in public there would be a decrease in smokers and this has been proven to help in the reduction of smokers and the increase in smoking cessation.

Illinois State University has a smoke free campus; this does not seem to be the case however.  When walking on the quad and sidewalks one can find hundreds of cigarette buds.  Having a smoke free campus would indeed improve the health benefits of the students and faculty but, without better enforcement of this policy calling ISU a smoke free campus does not seem right.

Smoking Cessation References

Lancaster, T. (2009). Group behavior therapy programmes for smoking cessation. Retrieved from http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/SpringboardWebApp/userfiles/ccoch/file/World%20No%20Tobacco%20Day/CD001007.pdf

Mermelstein, R. Cohen, S. Lichtenstein, E. & Baer, J. (1986). Social support and smoking cessation and maintenance. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54(4), Retrieved from http://www.psy.cmu.edu/~scohen/smokecessa86.pdf

 Nayab, N. (2010, October 20). Offering cash incentives for an employee quit smoking promotion. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/office/human-resources/articles/91937.aspx

Wilson, B. (2010). Socio-ecological model-looking beyond the individual. Retrieved from http://www.balancedweightmanagement.com/TheSocio-EcologicalModel.htm.

American lung association lung walk, (2010). [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUzccZ46Y_k

How can I quit smoking?. (2007) Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300457.

State of tobacco control, (2009). Retrieved from http://www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org/2009/states/report-card.html?state=il

State of tobacco control, (2009). Retrieved from http://www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org/2009/federal/federal-summary.html

(n,d.). Retrieved from http://www.lungusa.org/