April 10, 2014 Ms.

Krista Soria English 212 Instructor University of Alaska Anchorage 3211 Providence Drive Anchorage, AK 99508 Dear Ms. Soria: We are glad to inform you that we have completed our report on whether it is feasible to ban cigarettes in Alaska. We are pleased to have your permission to conduct the study; we also want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to choose our topic. This project provided a great experience for us. We started to search for the related information for banning cigarettes on the website first, then we began to conduct more researches on the UAA Library database on any other reports or articles about the cigarettes smoking to develop a questionnaire. We finally slowly figure out the answers for our study from collecting all the research information and the surveys from our classmates. We both think the research is really interesting and helpful not only to us and to our society. We learned a lot of information from doing this study; it had helped us understanding the impact and the awareness on banning smoking cigarettes. We thank you for giving us this project and appreciate the opportunity to conduct the project. We hope you find our study informative and conclusive. Sincerely, Hsuan(Demi) Straughn Helen Morales Enclosure: Feasibility Report

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

Banning Cigarettes Smoking in Alaska: A Feasibility Report Hsuan Straughn Helen Morales University of Anchorage, AK

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

Abstract Smoking tobacco negatively affects the smokers health but also causing secondhand smoke for Alaskans who spend most of the time in closed indoor places. Participants in this study were questioned regarding their awareness of the health and environment affects from inhaling tobacco cigarettes and some other impacts, such as economic and tax impacts, for doing the ban. It was determined that there is a strong disagreement among the participants to the cigarettes ban; however, there are some successful bans in another country and other alternative options evaluated for the feasibility of banning cigarettes smoking. Based upon this research, banning cigarettes in Alaska is not feasible mainly due to the economic impact in society. Most smokers are also unable to use the E-cigarettes because it does not satisfy them. It is recommended that the Electronic Cigarettes be enhanced to feel and taste the same as the tobacco cigarettes. On the other hand, Alaska community can also be improved by raising the price on tobacco cigarettes.

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

Contents

Abstract. Introduction..

2 4

Research Methods

Results Figure 1 Figure 2 9 Figure 3 10 8

Conclusion.

12

Recommendations

13

References Appendix A: Questionnaire

14 16

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

Introduction We have been researching if it is feasible to ban cigarettes smoking in Alaska. Smoking tobacco negatively acts smokers health and causes second hand smoke. The purpose of our study was to see if people would agree or disagree with banning smoking in Alaska. We developed a series of questions for respondents on they thought about the topic and we received 20 questionnaires back. Our results include topics regarding the respondents awareness of the affects smoking has on body, and what are the impact on banning cigarettes. For example cigarette butts leak out toxins that contaminate the fresh water supply and if not correctly disposed of can cause wildfires and destroying homes. We also found some solutions such as Electronic-cigarettes to help people quit smoking; however, it has not been proven to be effective thus far. In our questionnaire we asked if they could come up with a solution to the smoking problem. People went from walking the other way to have more disposal containers available and designated rooms with air filters. Another person said introducing an e cigarette as an alternative to tobacco smoking. E Cigarettes would be the best alternative while giving the smoker the same mouth and throat feel. It would also be less harmful to the environment and people that think they are always at risk of second hand smoke. A study providing E-cigarettes as an alternative to regular cigarettes shows that air is much less contaminated and safer for non-smokers and that the e-cigarette is way safer for a person that smokes, and still gives them the mouth and throat feel. The e-cigarettes keeps smoker from inhaling too much nicotine that is harmful for them and others around. E- Cigarette wasnt from the United State the FDA is trying to get jurisdiction over the product. Some places reject the smoke free product while others are recruiting to it. (Keane, 2012)

Some tobacco ban laws had successfully worked in history, but some did not work out. In 1989, The French passed a law where they banned all smoking in the bistros, but failed to tell the public what it had done. However, in Israel, 80% of citizens do not smoke since the law passed. The history could indicate that the education in society regarding smoking cigarettes will affect

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

their lives majorly, meaning that the banning of cigarettes could be possible according to history. However, could such a ban be possible in Alaska (Connolly, 2012)? Another question we asked was what are some solutions to preventing the impact of public smoking? Our questionnaire responses where to charge more taxes to the manufacturers to providing more designated smoking areas and advertising an alternative electronic and vapor cigarette. Others came up with a simpler solution like walking away from the person smoking, smoking should be allowed in every place and that more discarding trays should be available to prevent the cigarette butts from affecting the public environment. It is known that cigarette butts contaminate fresh water and accumulates in waste. ECigarettes on the other hand would be a great alternative by giving the person who smokes the same feeling in the throat but exhaling vapor. E- Cigarettes are a vapor simulated to be smoke but less harmful to the body. However, the research we found shows that people are not satisfed with the taste and the feeling of the E-Cigarettes. According to the report, out of the smokers who had tried the E-Cigarettes, only 30% of them would continually use them. This report indicates that currently our technology is not enhanced enough to be a replacement for tobacco cigarettes (Kralikova, 2012). We also researched that by raising the price of tobacco products; we can improve the health of Alaskans, and reduce tobacco caused illnesses as well as the associated costs. There are a couple different ways of taxing tobacco buyers like weight-based, pre-unit, and value. The most common tax is the pre-unit since the state charges cigarette smokers pre-unit taxes to calculate and implement the cigarettes imported to the community. There are over 450 local jurisdictions nationwide that have their own local tobacco taxes bringing in over $580 million in annual revenue while working electively to reduce tobacco use especially among teenagers. In Alaska alone the smoking rate is at 22.9 % (Sepal, 2007). Overall our project on the feasibility of banning smoking in Alaska is not possible because of the economy impact, banning cigarettes would cause the government lose money and would possibly raise the tax on citizen. It is something not everyone is willing to agree on.

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

Results Figure 1 illustrates the amount of people who think they are at risk of the second hand smoke, 54% of people think they are sometimes at risk of inhaling second hand smoke, 20% think most of the time they are at risk of inhaling second hand smoke, 20% of people think they are never at risk and 6% said they are always at risk of second hand smoke. In reality you can be exposed to second hand smoke at work, in public places, at home and in the car.

Figure 1 Illustration of people who think that they are at risk of second hand smoke. 54% sometimes, 20% most of the time, 20% never at risk and 6% always at risk of second hand smoke.

There is no safe amount of second hand smoke; even just a small amount can have a bad effect on your body since it contains many harmful chemicals that damage the body that can later cause disease. Since the majority of people that took our survey dont think they are at risk of second hand smoke, and dont agree with banning smoking, makes our banning smoking in Alaska

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

feasibility not possible and here are some of the questionnaire results below show the disagreement. When asked if smoking should be banned from Alaska? 58% said definitely not, 29% dont know, 13% probably and 0% for defiantly should be banned as shown in Figure 2.

Responded
60% 50% 40% Responded 30% 20% 10% 0%

Definitely not

dont know

Probably

Definitely

Figure 2. Should cigarettes be banned in Alaska? 58% definitely not, 29% dont know, 13% probably and 0% definitely.

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

Figure 3. Illustrates the recipients answers to the question: Do you think the banning smoking cigarettes will have a positive impact on our society? Ten recipients said definitely not, seven did not know, and seven definitely agreed. Since the majority of the questionnaires came back with the recipients not agreeing with banning cigarettes, we have determined that banning cigarettes in Alaska will not be feasible. Tobacco companies are very important to the economy, banning cigarettes in Alaska will mean raising taxes to all residents. Residents of Alaska are not willing to pay extra for banning something people are too accustom to. Our results show how that although people know that the tobacco cigarettes even if it is harmful for our health and environment. Figure 3 shows how many recipients support and dont support the banning cigarettes in Alaska.

Running head: BANNING CIGERETTES IN ALASKA

Research Methods The following methods were used to gather information and conduct the study regarding the feasibility of banning cigarettes smoking in Alaska: We reviewed the current policy on smoking cigarettes in Alaska from the Alaska public website to understand the current situation. We searched online sources to help us build our knowledge and give us the direction on the related topic for data resource. We conducted primary research and all secondary research by using peerreviewed articles through the UAA / APU Consortiums Library, determining the impact in society and how the ban failed or succeeded in the history on banning the smoking cigarettes. We used the category options to help us find the related topic we want for our research. We developed and distributed a questionnaire to UAA English 212 students and received 24 responses. Some of the students are tobacco smokers themselves according to the results. We designed graphic results based on the questionnaire to evaluate the feasibility of banning cigarettes smoking. We analyzed the data and used the information we found to conduct the results. We searched online sources to

The following criteria were used to conduct the study and determine our conclusion and recommendations: Do people realize the impact from inhaling secondhand smoke? Do smokers understand the negative effect from smoking and to the environment? What would be the dangers of banning smoking on the economy and on their mental state? Would people agree to pay extra money to support the ban?

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Would the Electronic Cigarettes be able to replace the tobacco cigarettes to help people quit smoking? What happened to the countries that had succeeded and failed to ban the cigarettes?

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Conclusion After reviewing our research material and question surveys we have concluded that banning smoking in Alaska will not be feasible. Since cigarettes have such a strong effect on the economy, banning them would mean more taxes for us the citizens. People are not willing to pay extra for anything now a day, which means that we will have to learn to adapt to society and protect ourselves from inhaling second hand some. If there is a person that smokes around avoids the area and hopefully the person that smokes will be more aware of their surroundings and smoke in the designated area. In the end this has been a great learning experience for us. Thank you for the opportunity of seeing if it would be feasible to ban smoking in Alaska.

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Recommendation Based on the studys results, it is recommended that the Electronic Cigarettes be enhanced to feel and taste the same as the tobacco cigarettes. This way could not only help the smokers to quit smoking cigarettes but also help the environment and the non-smokers health. As the human technology is getting better daily, it is possible that there will be electronic cigarettes that are not harmful for anybody to replace tobacco cigarettes in the future.

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References Copestake, P. (1995). Smoking. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 33(5), 432. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/10.1016/0278-6915(95)90273-2 Samet, J., Lewit, E., Warner, K. (1995). Involuntary Smoking and Chilfrens Health. Current Problems in Pediatrics, 25(6), 189. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/10.1016/S0045-9380(06)80033-2 Elsevier. (2013). Journal of Cardiology. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/10.1016/j.jjcc.2013.05.010 Woo-Jun, Y., Min-Ho, S., Sun-Seog, K., So-Yeon, R., & Jung-Ae, R. (2012). Association of smoking status, cumulative smoking, duration of smoking cessation, age of starting smoking, and depression in Korean adults. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 724-730. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-724. Retrieved from http://proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?dire ct=true&db=aph&AN=84511690&site=ehost-live Clancy, N., Zwar, N., Richmond, R. (2013). Depression, smoking and smoking cessation: A Qualitative Study. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/content/30/5/587.full.pdf+h tml Yun, Shin, Kweon, Ryu, Phee. (2013). Addictive Behaviors: Reciprocal Effects of Alcohol and Nicotine in Smoking Cessation Treatment Studies. Elsevire. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.11.018 Keane, H. (2012). International Journal of Drug Policy: Nicotine control: E-cigarettes, smoking addiction. Elsevier. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.01.006 Connolly, G. (2013). How Society Treats Smoking. Isr J Health. Retrieved from http://sz3sa6ce8r.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.882004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journ al&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=How+society+treats+smoking&rft.jtitle=Israel+journal+of +health+policy+research&rft.au=Connolly%2C+Gregory+N&rft.date=2012&rft.eissn=2 045-

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4015&rft.volume=1&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=29&rft_id=info:pmid/22913416&rft.external DocID=22913416&paramdict=en-US Kralikova, E., Kubatoba, S., Trueckova, K., Kmetova, A. and Hajek, P. (2012). The Electronic Cigarettes: What Proportion of Studies Had Tried It and How Many Had Used It? 107, 15281529. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03916.x. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/doi/10.1111/j.13600443.2012.03916.x/pdf

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Appendix A: Questionnaire
The purpose of this questionnaire is to determine the possibility of banning cigarette smoking. You are selected for this questionnaire to help us develop the report. Your responses will be kept confidential and they will help us understand the results of our study. Thank you for taking your time on these questions.

What is your age?

Under 20 21~30 31~40 41~50 51~60 Above 61

What is your gender?

Male Female

What is your ethnicity ?

White/Caucasian Black/African-American Asian Hispanic Other

Are you currently a cigarette user / Were you once a cigarettes user in your life?

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Yes No

Do you think smoking cigarettes affects the human body?

Yes No

Do you think discarded cigarettes affect our environment?

Yes No

What are some other solutions to prevent the impact of public smoking?

Do you live with a person who smokes?

Yes No

How do you feel about people who smoke around public places?

Bad Neither Good nor Bad Good

Have you experienced any events or presentations from people regarding cigarettes smoking in high school or other?

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Yes No

Do you feel that you are at risk of second hand smoke?

Never Sometimes Most of the Time Always

Would you be willing to pay extra tax to making smoking illegal?

Definitely not Don't know Probably Definitely

Do you think banning smoking cigarettes will have a positive impact on our society?

Definitely not Don't know Definitely

What are other possible impacts on banning cigarettes smoking?

Do you think smoking should be banned in Alaska?

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Yes No