Full Answer Section

Prevalence of Tobacco Use

In the United States, approximately 20.3% of adults (45 million people) use tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes. Tobacco use is more prevalent among certain populations, including men, people with lower levels of education, and people living in poverty.

Globally, an estimated 1.1 billion people use tobacco products, and tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide.

Monetary Costs of Tobacco Use

The monetary costs of tobacco use in the United States are staggering. In 2019, it was estimated that tobacco use cost the U.S. economy over $170 billion in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. This includes the cost of medical care for tobacco-related diseases, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, as well as the cost of lost wages due to illness and death.

Advance Practice Roles and Management Strategies

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) play a critical role in reducing tobacco use at the community level. APNs can provide counseling and education to tobacco users, prescribe smoking cessation medications, and connect patients with community resources.

In addition, APNs can work with community leaders to develop and implement policies that reduce tobacco use, such as smoke-free laws and increased taxes on tobacco products.

Key Community and Social Resources

There are a number of community and social resources that can help to reduce tobacco use. These resources include:

• Smoking cessation programs: These programs provide counseling and support to tobacco users who want to quit.

• Tobacco prevention programs: These programs educate youth and adults about the dangers of tobacco use.

• Community-based organizations: These organizations can provide support and resources to tobacco users and their families.

Changes or Enhancements in Community-Related Services

There are a number of changes or enhancements that could be made to community-related services to reduce tobacco use. These changes include:

• Expanding access to smoking cessation programs: This could include providing more funding for smoking cessation programs and making them more accessible to people in underserved communities.

• Increasing funding for tobacco prevention programs: This could include funding for school-based tobacco prevention programs and media campaigns that target youth and adults.

• Developing culturally competent tobacco prevention and cessation programs: These programs should be tailored to the needs and preferences of different cultural groups.

Strategic Plan

Goal: Reduce tobacco use among adults in the community by 10% in five years.

Objectives:

• Increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco use among adults in the community.
• Increase access to smoking cessation programs for adults in the community.
• Increase the number of adults in the community who quit tobacco use.

Strategies:

• Implement a community-wide media campaign about the dangers of tobacco use.
• Partner with local healthcare providers to offer smoking cessation programs.
• Provide funding for community-based organizations to provide tobacco prevention and cessation services.
• Develop culturally competent tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
• Advocate for policies that reduce tobacco use, such as smoke-free laws and increased taxes on tobacco products.

Evaluation:

The success of the strategic plan will be evaluated by tracking the following metrics:

• Percentage of adults in the community who are aware of the dangers of tobacco use.
• Number of adults in the community who participate in smoking cessation programs.
• Percentage of adults in the community who quit tobacco use.

Conclusion

Tobacco use is a serious public health issue that can be prevented. By implementing a comprehensive strategic plan that includes community-wide education, access to smoking cessation programs, and support for community-based organizations, we can reduce tobacco use and improve the health of our community.