By Guest Blogger Janet Porter, MPH, Program Director, Break Free Alliance, Health Education Council
Smoking prevalence among people with disabilities is nearly 50 percent higher than among people without disabilities (29.9 percent versus 19.8 percent) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death in the United States.
Disparities in smoking prevalence, in addition to barriers to the use of preventive services (such as traveling to a doctor′s appointment) put people with disabilities at risk for declining health. It is not clear as to why the smoking prevalence is higher among people with disabilities, but it should definitely be an area for further examination.Research confirms that people with disabilities are less likely than people without disabilities to receive preventive health care; and therefore, they have a higher risk of illness and disease. The 2005 Surgeon General′s Call to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities indicated that the resulting higher health care expenditure costs and productivity losses for people with disabilities, which exceed $300 billion, can be understood as a result of too little attention to the other health needs of these individuals by health providers.
Quitting smoking is the most important step smokers can take to improve their overall health and reduce their risk for disease. Approximately 10 percent of smokers have a smoking-related chronic disease, primarily heart disease or emphysema. Smokers who quit will, on average, live longer and have fewer years living with a disability. It is vital that health care providers ask patients about their smoking behavior and advise them to quit!
It is also important to note that the tobacco industry spends millions of dollars each year marketing their deadly products to vulnerable populations. The industry has recently produced a number of new smokeless tobacco products that are designed to be used in locations where smoking is not allowed. These products keep people addicted and can also pose additional health risks. Don’t be fooled by the tobacco industry’s tactics – be aware of these products and their health risks. It is critical to educate children and young adults about their dangers! Also, support the adoption of tobacco-free policies in your community, workplace and schools.
Break Free Alliance, a national network funded by the Centers for Disease Control, Office on Smoking and Heath, has been working to educate policy makers, health care providers, social service workers and others about the burden of tobacco use in vulnerable and medically underserved populations. If you have an interest in helping with this important mission, please visit the Alliance at www.breakfreesupport.org.
Remember, quitting smoking is the best thing someone can do for their health! People with and without disabilities who smoke can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) (TTY 1-800-332-8615) or visit www.smokefree.gov for quitting assistance.
Janet Porter has worked in tobacco prevention and education for the past 20 years and currently serves as the Program Director of Break Free Alliance, a national network that works to reduce tobacco use in populations of low socioeconomic status. She has authored numerous abstracts and publications related to tobacco policy and prevention approaches in the community-based setting and serves on numerous committees and workgroups to address tobacco use in specific populations. She completed her undergraduate degree in Health Science from California State University, Sacramento and obtained her Master’s Degree in Public Health from Loma Linda University, School of Public Health. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
Here’s something that will make you stop – how about 35 radiation treatments for larynx cancer, then an operation to remove your voice box and cut a hole in your neck to breathe through that makes sucking on cigs hard to do? It made me quit! Just put them down before it’s too late like me, ha ha ha. Least I didn’t get lung cancer like most people do.
I wish you people that are not disabled could see for yourself what it’s like, day after day, taking meds with just the TV for entertainment. It’s bad enough I’ve been hooked on cigs since I was just a young teen and almost everyone smoked, and I’m just 46 and no help from the gov’t. to help me quit. So even putting a high tax rate on cigs, I still buy them. I tried the e-cig. It was good, but cost more than cigs, so back to real smokes. So what’s the answer?
Electronic cigarettes are safer to use, no inhaling smoke or toxins, no second hand smoke. My understanding is that they are no worse then the caffeine when drinking coffee, which does effect your blood pressure. But more people are using this way to quite smoking. They also have nicotine free liquids, that you can add flavors to, like lemon, strawberry, etc., etc. I think it takes care of the oral fictation, and the hands. They have different strengths of nicotine, so you can take control of how you are going to quit smoking. I just started this E-Cig, and I am hoping to stop altogether in 6 or so months. This gets you away from the toxins faster, gets family and loved ones away from second hand smoke, but you are still getting the feeling of having a cigarette. This is just my opinion, so do not take this to the bank. LOL! I am a disabled RN, can’t work anymore, had to retire before I was ready to, way too young. Can’t do stuff like I used to. Find myself sitting at this computer, or watching TV way too much. I have too much nervous energy. Walking is good way to burn off the extra energy. Well I will hush now, this will turn into a book if I don’t stop now. MK
Hi There,
I think that we need to reframe the health issue of smoking. First, let’s face it, death is not preventable, it’s inevitable. We die one way or another.
By linking smoking with death (premature), we create the illusion amongst avid smokers that with their habit, they will suffer a major heart attack or stroke and die, thus actually costing less to the system. However, we have plenty of evidence that these are rare scenarios, the exception. Most of the time, health problems accumulate and gradually impair the smoker’s ability to enjoy life, while increasing the cost of their healthcare. That’s where the emphasis should be.
I could see an ad with a picture of a “cool” looking smoker next to one of someone with a missing limb in a wheelchair, with an oxygen tank viewed from behind. The caption could read: “You think you look cool, do you? Wait a few years, you won’t!”
Smoking is dangerous to your health, but it has become fashionable some how.
Really this is an interesting blog posting. I appreciate this post. Thanks for sharing valuable information…
Neuropsychological studies have shown that nicotine boosts executive functioning in the brain. As the survivor of 3 TBIs, I was told by my neurologist to NOT stop smoking. I made a compromise and switched to electronic cigarettes as a nicotine source, eliminating the tobacco. If you do a little research, you will see that it is true, and could be one reason people with disabilities smoke. My ability to focus and not “stare into space” is greatly improved with nicotine (and caffeine, I might add) in my system.
I have been a certified Hypnotist for over 50 years. Hypnosis worked for me more than forty times but about 6-8 months later someone would offer me a smoke and I would have just 1 and here we go again. Two cartons a week in less than 2 weeks. The last time I quit was 35 months ago. I AM CLEAN. Yes, I still want one from time to time. One thing you can believe, you never get completely over the desire. It took major heart surgery and a month in the hospital to prove it to me. Sometimes I am a slow learner.
Speaking from experience, one of the reasons smoking may be higher among the disabled: one of the most important steps to take when trying to quit is finding another activity. If you’re disabled with minimal mobility, your options are severely limited. There is also the high depression rate, along with greater seclusion. Finally, health insurance will not pay for or even offset the extremely high costs associated with smoking cessation. Again, without a support group that can be easily accessed, even when a disabled person does try to quit, s/he is completely on their own.