Document Type
Portfolio
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Goal Statement: My goal for this prevention portfolio is to reduce the percentage of adults in Spartanburg County, South Carolina who smoke tobacco. Significant
Findings: In this social change portfolio, I highlight the profound impact of adult smoking in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where in 2021, 18% of adults smoked; higher than both the state (16%) and national (15%) averages. Also, that year, 17.1 million pounds of tobacco were harvested in South Carolina, contributing to the crisis. In this paper, I examine the risk and protective factors that influence whether an individual smokes. Smoking rates are disproportionately high among American Indian or Alaskan Native men, partly due to cultural tobacco use for sacred ceremonies and medicinal purposes. Addressing this issue requires advocacy and prevention efforts at institutional, community, and policy levels. Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next Steps: Increase access to smoking cessation resources, such as the Multicomponent Smoking Cessation Program, which includes counseling, medications, education, and a Smoker’s Helpline. Launch public health campaigns via TV, social media, and community outreach to raise awareness about smoking risks and quitting benefits. Promote smoke-free workplaces and businesses to support quitting efforts and discourage smoking. Lobby for higher tobacco taxes to deter smoking by making tobacco products less affordable, particularly among youth and low-income groups. Continue supporting behavioral therapy and counseling to help smokers manage triggers and cravings to promote long-term success in quitting.