1. To some extent, humans will always struggle with some core health issues because these issues arise from human behavior.
2. It's going to take more than an advertisement on tv or a poster to make a difference. Instead, we have to change learn how to change social norms.
On a more positive note, I think we've done an excellent job changing the social norm of smoking. Many thanks to new laws, medical evidence, and the numerous campaigns urging people to change their views about smoking. Here's a link to one of my favorites: http://www.whudafxup.com/
And who could forget this woman?
Despite all that we are up against, I think we have reason to believe that public health will continue to see monumental health behavior changes, greatly because of the creative ways in which we are learning to communicate health issues.
4 comments:
i can't forget that woman. I thought it was fake first. But then... I found out the truth and it's disheartening to know that.
I am glad I had already quit smoking when I saw this women!
I remember this lady - I was either in or just out of high school. It completely grossed me out. You can easily say to yourself "Why don't these people just suck it up and quit!". I came to realize that the addiction is SO strong that these people cannot quit.
Do these "scare tactics" work???
We still have young people take up smoking today, even though they know the risks.
Cigarette smoking killed my father. He developed bladder cancer as a result of smoking, even after he quit. The cancer eventually spread to his legs and then his lungs.
We had a relative who was in the exact same situation as this woman. I remembered him becuz of his voice box, but I didn't know then what caused it.
Those shock ads and films did the trick for some people; some never started and some quit; but, some still smoked simply becuz they were so addicted. We quit for similar reasons ~ health, fear, and the cost, in that order ...
I know teens who smoke, who's parents never smoked; so, this has to be socially motivated ~ peer pressure is a powerful thing; if only we could harness it in the opposite direction. Oh ... I think they tried that already!
Rosebud
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