Nazarova I.B. Smoking: Health Risks and Control Mechanisms

Текст статьи.

Abstract

Based on the Rosstat data – “Sample monitoring of the health status of the population” (SZN), conducted in 2024 in all subjects of the Russian Federation, the risks of health behavior associated with smoking in individuals aged 15 years and older are considered. Within the framework of the sociology of health, using the behavioral approach (the concept of a healthy lifestyle, self-preservation behavior, solutogenesis), social mechanisms of influence on individual and collective behavior in relation to behavior associated with health risks are considered using smoking as an example. Despite the efforts of recent years to combat smoking, the legislative justification for the prohibition on smoking in public places and restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, young people start smoking quite early. 16% of Russians smoke actively, daily, 2,3% – not every day, and it produces risks in terms of harm to their own health and the health of people around. The main structural restrictions on smoking and the harm caused by smoking were identified as mechanisms operating at different levels: macro level (state – development of legislation and launch of national projects), middle level (level of organizations implementing legislation and proposing their own initiative projects), individual (at the level of interaction of an individual in small social groups). The most effective mechanisms limiting smoking are cultural ones, based on the traditions of healthy behavior. State mechanisms are based primarily on prohibitive measures regarding smoking. The most effective measure recognized by citizens is the ban on the sale of tobacco to minors (67%). Based on the Rosstat data – “Sample monitoring of the health status of thepopulation” (SZN), conducted in 2024 in all subjects of the Russian Federation, therisks of health behavior associated with smoking in individuals aged 15 years and olderare considered. Within the framework of the sociology of health, using the behavioralapproach (the concept of a healthy lifestyle, self-preservation behavior, solutogenesis),social mechanisms of influence on individual and collective behavior in relation to behaviorassociated with health risks are considered using smoking as an example. Despite theefforts of recent years to combat smoking, the legislative justification for the prohibitionon smoking in public places and restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, young peoplestart smoking quite early. 16% of Russians smoke actively, daily, 2,3% – not every day, andit produces risks in terms of harm to their own health and the health of people around. Themain structural restrictions on smoking and the harm caused by smoking were identifiedas mechanisms operating at different levels: macro level (state – development of legislationand launch of national projects), middle level (level of organizations implementinglegislation and proposing their own initiative projects), individual (at the level of interactionof an individual in small social groups). The most effective mechanisms limiting smokingare cultural ones, based on the traditions of healthy behavior. State mechanisms arebased primarily on prohibitive measures regarding smoking. The most effective measurerecognized by citizens is the ban on the sale of tobacco to minors (67%).