What are the current strategies and programs for dealing with tobacco?

Tobacco Control Program INTRODUCTION: My name is Geda Pintor and I am an undergraduate student at National University in the Department of Community Health. I am taking a class in Health Promotion Program Planning & Evaluation. The core activity is a group project that will help us learn how to design our own hypothetical health program. We have chosen tobacco in adult’s user in all races as our health topic. An important first step in our effort is to better understand the needs of this population. Therefore, we are conducting interviews with key community leaders. The themes that emerge from the interviews will be used to plan our health program and develop an appropriate intervention that reflects the needs of our adult’s user in all races. They will also be incorporated into a final written report and presentation to the class. Your knowledge is very valuable, and I hope you have 10-15 minutes for me to interview you. Is this a good time or should I call back later? QUESTIONS 1. Please tell me about yourself/your organization? Senior Military Instructor and Facilitator at Naval Education and Training Command, Drug & Alcohol Abuse Program Advisor at USS Comstock LSD-45 General Military Training and Tobacco Cessation Facilitator a) Your name is? Your position or title is? Miguel Jauregui, Command Climate Specialist. Currently Serving as Command Managed Equal Opportunity Senior Military Facilitator at Naval Education Training Command and General Military Training Facilitator. b) How long have you worked here? Miguel Jauregui worked aboard USS Comstock as Drug & Alcohol Abuse Program Advisor for two years and Senior Military Instructor at Naval Education Training Command, San Diego California for two years. c) Your organization’s name is? Naval Education Training Command d) What is its mission? The primary mission of a Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor is to provided evaluation, counseling, and referral services to individuals identified as drug or alcohol abusers. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors also provide a point of contact for commands and individuals seeking assistance concerning alcohol or drug abuse programs. Additionally, responsible for the review and updates of the command tobacco and smoking policy. e) What services does your organization or department provide? Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) is an enterprise level shore command of the United States Navy that is responsible for training, education and professional development of the Navy’s 400,000 active duty and reserve Sailors through accession, continuing education, and advancement training. f) What communities are included in your service area? Counseling, training and referrals are restricted to current command. 2. Do you think tobacco is a major health issue in your community? Why? Yes, Tobacco use in the U.S. military is more prevalent than among gender- and age-matched civilians and this has been attributed to aspects of military culture that promote it. a) What groups are impacted the most? Where are they located geographically? All, Sailors are located all over the world, reports show that 15% of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel started smoking after joining the military and that 30% of current smokers reported initiating tobacco use after joining the military. b) What are the needs of these groups? Awareness of Tabaco cessation, support groups and local smoking cessation programs. c) Is this especially a problem among low income/underserved people? No, tobacco is a problem among all levels of income, race, genders. d) Are there different issues for different segments of population? Yes, in the military is very common to feel peer pressure, but many use it as a method to release stress, socialize or just to take a break during working hours. e) Are there other issues? Yes, many young smokers start smoking and proceed other habits like drinking and getting in trouble. 3. What are the current strategies and programs for dealing with tobacco? The military is making it harder and more expensive to acquire tobacco products. New policies are significantly limiting locations for tobacco use. The military continue to create inconvenience for smokers hoping that they will quit on their own. Medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and Fleet and Family Service Centers (FFSCs) provide current tobacco use information, cessation encouragement, and professional assistance to those wishing to stop using tobacco. a) Are these existing programs or strategies effective? Yes, many sailors had quit smoking. b) Do you find that individuals affected by tobacco show patterns/common behaviors that can be identified to help you develop a solution to the problem? Is not hard to identified sailors that are affected by tobacco, most of them gather in the same place to smoke, we continuously help them to develop a solution to their problem. c) What other stakeholders do you work with to address this problem? Basic needs are provided on site. Many other are referred to Naval Medical treatment facilities and The Naval Base Fleet and Family Service Center. d) Do you have recommendations or solutions to address the problem that are not yet being implemented? Continue to provide Awareness and Preventive training 4. What do you think could encourage and support more community involvement/advocacy about tobacco? Monitor tobacco-related medical research, tobacco industry claims and marketing trends, and determine patterns of use in military and civilian populations. a) What are the barriers to involvement — complexity of issue, lack of information, inadequate staffing? Social connection b) Are there other people you think we should talk to? Yes, Fleet and Family Service Centers (FFSCs) c) Have we covered everything you think is important? Yes ]]>