Process of Legislation Essay

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nurse in one of the local hospitals in Louisiana, I have noticed that many children are hospitalized with various health issues like ear infections, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, rhinitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and sore throats. These medical issues have become common among students in the region without a clear understanding of the major contributing factors. In attempts to identify the main factors resulting in the illnesses, I have conducted state-wide analysis of the problem. The analysis has indicated that most of these children are exposed to secondhand smoke, which has enhanced the rates of these diseases. Children in this state are increasingly exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke in various environments. It is reported that over 294,000 children below 18 years and 91,000 children below 5 years regularly share breathing space with smokers in their own homes throughout Louisiana.

The scope of this issue contributes to the need to establish measures that will lessen exposure to secondhand smoke, especially in spaces that are regularly accessed by children. The most appropriate measure for dealing with the issue is enacting Smoke-Free law that would prohibit smoking in many enclosed public places or environments.

Background

As previously mentioned, children in Louisiana are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke or secondhand smoke in various settings and environments ("Secondhand Smoke and Children," n.d.). The State's Department of Health and Hospitals report that nearly 300,000 and 100,000 children below 18 and 5 years respectively regularly share breathing space with smokers in their respective homes.

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The exposure to secondhand smoke poses several health risks to children including the risk of Sudden Infant Death (SIDS), which is twice as much in a household or home with a smoking parent. This exposure causes nearly 2 million incidents of chronic middle ear infection on an annual basis and close to 500,000 incidents of bronchitis and nearly 200,000 cases of pneumonia in children below 5 years on a national annual basis. The increased rates of various clinical conditions among Louisiana children are attributed to the fact that secondhand smoke is the leading source of indoor air pollution since it contains approximately 5,000 chemical compounds.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011), 25 states and the District of Columbia have enacted comprehensive statutes that ban smoking in indoor environments like restaurants, workplaces, and bars to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke. These comprehensive smoke-free statutes have been crucial in lessening health care issues associated with exposure to secondhand smoke, especially among children. While the laws do not completely eliminate secondhand smoke, they significantly lessen medical conditions associated with exposure to it. Therefore, Louisiana will significantly benefit from enacting comprehensive smoke-free laws to protect non-smokers, especially children, from exposure to the smoke and eventual health risks. An example of a state that has enacted such laws is Arizona, which passed the Smoke-Free Arizona Act A.R.S. §36-601.01.….....

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