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Determining the factors that influence NTC College Students smokes cigarettes

INTRODUCTION Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. Smoking is one of the most common forms of drug use. Cigarette smoking is today by far the most popular form of smoking and is practiced by over one billion people in the majority of all human societies.

The health effects of smoking cigarettes are horribly destructive and in many cases, deadly. Approximately 7000 chemicals, have been identified in cigarettes and cigarette smoke to date, 250 of which are poisonous and 70, carcinogenic. Science is far from finished in its exploration of the composition of manufactured tobacco products, and the chemical count is still increasing.
The ingredients in cigarettes affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system. The health effects of cigarette smoking are destructive and widespread. Let's take a closer look at the details about how smoking affects the human body.

Like most people, you already know that smoking is bad for your health. But do you really understand just how dangerous smoking really is? Cigarette contains nicotine, a highly addictive drug that makes it difficult for smokers to kick the habit. Cigarette products also contain many poisonous and harmful substances that cause disease and premature death.

Most people don't know the odds of getting sick as a result of smoking are really that bad, but when you do the numbers, that is how they come out. For many people, truly understanding the very real dangers associated with smoking becomes the motivating factor that helps them to quit. Smoking is one of the most dangerous widespread phenomena that threaten lives of many people worldwide. It starts as a way of having fun, but ends as an addiction. Today, we often hear of “smoking among students, especially the college students.”
Most people start smoking when they are in their teens and are addicted by the time they reach adulthood. Some have tried to quit but have returned to cigarettes because smoking is such a strong addiction. It is a habit that is very difficult to break. There are many different reasons why people smoke.
Three of the main reasons that young people smoke are to look mature, to be like their friends, and to experiment. Since teens see older people all around them smoking, especially their parents and relatives, they smoke to act older. If their friends or peers smoke, they may feel pressured into doing the same to be accepted. The last reason is the excitement of experimenting with something that is forbidden. In Massachusetts it is against the law for anyone under 18 years old to smoke. Usually parents do not allow their underage teens to smoke. Therefore, smoking becomes very attractive. It is exciting to get cigarettes and sneak away to smoke without being caught.
Adults smoke for other reasons. They may have a lot of stress and pressures because of economic and personal problems. They may be unemployed or working but not making enough money to take care of themselves and their families. They may be homeless, or they may be dealing with alcohol or cocaine/heroin addictions. Some may be in bad marriages or relationships in which there is physical and/or verbal abuse. All these people may smoke to feel relaxed or to give them energy while going through a hard time.
Whether young or old, some people smoke to control their weight. Smokers, on the average, weigh seven pounds less than non-smokers. Smoking reduces a person's appetite. It lessens his/her sense of taste and smell. This could be why ex-smokers gain weight after quitting cigarettes. Food tastes and smells so much better.
Finally, there are people who say they love to smoke. Smoking gives them pleasure. It just makes them feel good. If we will look at the consequences of smoking, we will find so many. Smoking causes many problems in one’s health. So, to avoid those consequences of smoking, one should control him/ herself from the temptation of doing it.

BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY

Tobacco was introduced in the Philippines in the late 16th century during the era of Spanish colonization when the Augustinians brought cigar tobacco seeds to the colony for cultivation. In 1686, William Dampier visited Mindanao and observed that smoking was a widespread custom. It had also become an article of foreign trade with the Dutch from Tidore and Ternate buying rice, beeswax and tobacco from the Spanish colony.
The tobacco monopoly in the Philippine islands during the Spanish era was established by Governor-General José Basco y Vargas on March 1, 1782 with the aim of increasing government revenue. Spearheaded by the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País (Economic Societies of Friends of the Country), tobacco was cultivated under strict government control confined to the Cagayan Valley, the Ilocos provinces, Nueva Ecija and Marinduque. The tobacco farmers were given quotas each year and the entire crop was then bought by the government. The tobacco leaves were then brought to Manila and made into cigars and cigarettes in government-owned factories, later to be shipped out for export. Tobacco became a major commodity in the galleon trade.
The tobacco monopoly made the colony self-sustaining and profit-earning. In 1808, the government realized a net profit of P500,000.00. These profits increased in subsequent years, reaching $3,000,000 in 1881. As a consequence of the monopoly, the Philippines became the biggest tobacco-producing country in Asia. However, it led to abuses by government officials who wanted to enrich themselves. The farmers abhorred the crop as they were at the mercy of government agents who cheated on its price, and they did not have the liberty to raise other crops for themselves and their families. The monopoly also encouraged bribery and smuggling due to the desire to evade strict government regulations. The tobacco monopoly was abolished in 1882. Republic Act No. 9211, otherwise known as the "Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003", makes it unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to purchase, sell or smoke tobacco products. Yet a survey conducted by the Department of Health revealed that children as young as five years old are already starting to smoke. The Tobacco Regulation Act also implements certain restrictions and bans on tobacco-related advertisements, endorsements, sponsorships and packaging.

The Tobacco Regulation Act bans smoking in public places such as schools and recreational facilities, elevators and stairwells, hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, public conveyances and public facilities such as airports and ship terminals, train and bus stations, restaurants and conference halls, with the exception of The Filipinos' preferred tobacco product is the cigarette, the most popular brand being Marlboro. It is estimated that each adult smoker consumes 838 cigarettes, equating to about 42 cigarette packs, per year.
Of the 17.3 million Filipino adults who are smokers, 48 percent or 14.6 million are males and 9 percent or 2.8 million are females. In addition, 23 percent of Filipino adults are daily tobacco smokers; 38.2 percent for males, who on the average smoked 11 cigarettes a day, and 6.9 percent for females, who on average smoked 7 cigarettes per day. Nearly half (48 percent) of the adult smokers had made an attempt to quit, however, only 5 percent were successful.
Second-hand tobacco smoke is also a concern. More than half (55 percent) of adults who use public transportation are exposed to it; in workplaces with no anti-smoking policy, more than 75 percent of workers are exposed.
A survey conducted by the Department of Health in 2007 determined that 1 in 5 Filipino students is a cigarette smoker. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke was also high, with 7 in 10 exposed to second-hand smoke around other people outside the home. In addition, more than half of the students had a parent who was as smoker.
In 2003, the Philippines enacted a smoke free law that restricts smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces. Smoking areas are permitted in most public places other than health care and educational facilities.
In July 2011, Manila implemented a smoke free ordinance for schools, gyms, parks, hospitals, elevators and stairwells of all buildings, buses and bus depots, restaurants, and government facilities.
The city of Las Piñas adopted a smoke free ordinance that covers government workplaces and many public places. The local ordinance is stronger than the national law, but still exempts many private workplaces and all hospitality establishments.

Statement of the problem:

What are the factors that influenced COB students’ attitudes towards smoking cigarettes?

Statement of the research objectives:

This study aims to identify the factors which affect the behavior of COB students with regards to smoking benefits. Specifically it aims to:

Determine what causes COB students to smoke as perceived by the respondents.
Determine the effects of smoking to COB students.
Determine if smoking helps COB students in their study.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Hypotheses:

Ho- Peers and family are the most influential factors of smoking.
Ha – Peers and family are not the most influential factors of smoking.

Ho – There is a physical effect in smoking.
Ha – There is no physical effect in smoking.

Ho – Smoking helps the students in their study.
Ha - Smoking does not help the students in their study.

Summary of Findings:

Based on the survey that we conducted to the NTC COB Students that smokes cigarettes, most of them believe that smoking gives relaxation. Only 40% of female who are smoking and 60% for the male, it simply shows that females are rare smokers than males.

They are smoking because of the influence of their friends and also of their curiosity.

According to our survey almost 3rd year college COB students smokes at the age of 15-16. Marlboro is the leading brand that the students are using. They are smoking during break time and after mealtime. For them, after they smoked they feel relaxed. Smoking also helps them to release stress and for fast digestion.

Finally, 93% of them answered that they want to stop smoking before settling down, because even though it gives them benefits they must also admit that smoking is dangerous to everybody’s health.

The 7% of the population are still hesitating to give up smoking because of the benefits they get from it.

Recommendations:

That the school not only maintain its high quality of education but to work more on the smoking policy should support both prevention and stop smoking activities and should apply to everyone using the premises.

Information on smoking should be integrated into the curriculum. For example, classroom discussions could be relevant when teaching biology, chemistry, citizenship and math.

Prominently feature posters and brochures smoking prevention and smoking cessation resources on campus as part of pre-entry e-mails, first year student newsletter, family blog, registration day, orientation, and family weekend.

Make “Quit Packs” available at all first year resource fairs and events.

Train orientation leaders and interns on campus resources.

Anti-smoking activities should aim to develop decision-making skills and include strategies for enhancing self-esteem. Parents and careers should be encouraged to get involved and students could be trained to lead some of these programs.

In the recruitment and selection of school staff, they must be involved in smoking prevention and must be trained to do so.

Conclusion:

In order to quit smoking individuals should prepare themselves for the move. It is imperative that one should get support for their endeavor to quit smoking. One should learn new skills and behaviors in order to give up smoking for good. One should obtain medication and utilize it properly. A person should be ready to face tough situations or a relapse. With a view to quit smoking one should fix a quit date. An individual should also make an attempt to alter one’s surroundings by removing the entire stock of cigarettes along with ashtrays in the home. A person must also prohibit others from smoking in one’s home. It is advisable to assess past efforts in giving up smoking and take into consideration what worked and what did not.