Smoking Cessation

Smoking Cessation

Part 1

The target behaviour is a selected behaviour for change (“The behaviour change process”, 1971). A target behaviour is the desired behaviour that the recipient aimed at attaining. Usually, a target behaviour usually is positive. For instance, when the teacher wants to suppress a specific behaviour like wandering in class, the teacher will refer to it as sitting in a chair instead of stop walking in class. The target behaviour aims at influencing positive feedback as it suppresses unwanted behaviour. I have a friend who is addicted to tobacco and nicotine. Sly is an active smoker who consumes the tobacco element through a smoking cigarette. Tobacco becomes addictive through the nicotine chemical present in it. The chemical has a soothing influence known as dopamine. Dopamine is sometimes considered as the brain’s happy chemical. It stimulates a specific part of the brain linked with both pleasures as well as reward. It can make individuals happy anytime they take it.

Tobacco addiction is the easiest thing to observe(Raw, 2005). The addiction becomes easy to observe because it is legal to consume tobacco in public. Even though others consume it socially for fun, some people become addicted to the drug. In as much as Sly cannot live without using the drug, she as well has shown efforts to quit the drugs. When asked the reason to her regular smoking Sly always complain of withdrawal symptoms where in most cases she experiences rapid heart rate, shaky hands, irritability or even sweating hence forcing her to smoke after every meal. According to her, she must take tobacco products to be like others. The target behaviour in her case is smoking cessation. Sly is an addict and preventing the addiction from getting worse might not as easy as many may think.

Meanwhile, the main focus is to help Sly come out of this addiction. In her case, smoking is one of the basic needs, and she can even skip events that smoking is exempted. Despite the health issues associated with tobacco Sly still cannot do without tobacco. She has had two miscarriages before with the doctors complaining of her smoking addiction, but with her, smoking becomes a priority.

Even though she has been stereotyped over her smoking behaviour, Sly vowed not to impress society by avoiding what makes her happy. However, as a friend helping Sly from this epidemic has become a duty.  My expectation while fighting the addiction in Sly is to ensure she transforms into another person who lives a tobacco-free lifestyle. Even though it might sound complicated, I believe with my every effort Sly will be a new person admired with many in society. Various therapies can help in treating tobacco addiction. For example, the patch also considered as a nicotine replacement. The patch has the ability to deliver a low amount of nicotine in the body. As the addict continues to use this therapy, the desire to use tobacco is reduced gradually. At the same time, I might use nicotine gum in case she might need something to cover up for the tobacco in their mouth. The journey to recovery is not easy but with the dedication to attain a definite target remains to be the goal. While using the stated therapies, I will be increasing the desired behaviour while suppressing the undesired behaviour.

Part 2

The tobacco addiction can be influenced by too much use of the product, peer pressure or even stress. According to statistics, at least 70% of miscarriages and impotent in America among individuals are caused by tobacco addiction. The addiction which has become rampant in the United States has made it a necessity to develop a program which will help in reducing its effect. Today tobacco use among the teens is becoming normal as they assume they are using it for fun. The intensity of tobacco consumption is alarming, and shortly, it might even become worse. While others consider it as a necessity, it harms the user’s health.

Tobacco addiction can only be managed and cannot be cured. The addiction is similar to other drug addiction and dealing with it is as tricky as other drugs. According to research transforming tobacco, the user may alter certain lifestyle habits such as avoiding events with tobacco users. However, to maintain the changing habit, one can implement positive behaviour such as exercising. Engaging in such behaviour can help a person’s recovery process. Similarly, it is argued that individuals undergoing such therapies have high chances of relapsing. It is estimated that at least 75% of tobacco users undergoing the recovery process end up relapsing within the first six months.

Meanwhile, the continuous treatment period may prevent the person from relapsing. Tobacco addiction is hazardous and in most cases, result in fatal consequences if not treated earlier. For instance, it might result in cancer of the throat, mouth or even lungs, stroke, heart diseases and eventually chronic lung diseases. The above conditions are hazardous to the users’ health, but when treated or prevented may reduce the user’s risk of death. Sly, in her case, spends much of her time smoking tobacco. For instance, in case of cold weather, disagreement with a friend, after a meal, and when feeling lonely tobacco is an option. Generally, 80% of her time she spends smoking hence making tobacco the ‘closest friend’.  The soothing effect in tobacco has made it difficult for her to cease from using the drug. Despite having caused her health-wise, avoiding the drug is still very challenging. Sly has attended several therapies to help in reducing her addiction problem.

Sly’s smoking problem can only be prevented by attending continuous therapy, such as cognitive behaviour therapy.  Refraining from her smoking habit might be challenging, but with proper guidance and the implementation of positive behaviour like engaging in the curriculum, activities might help in solving the problem. Positive behaviours are very influential towards the desired behaviour change. Even though restricting the users in these behaviours might be problematic, continuous exposure in this therapy might be impactful.  The statistics done on at least 300 smokers aged between 18 years and above confirms the affectivity of cognitive behaviour therapy.  The treatment entails several things, including the patch which helped the user to replace the nicotine with another element. While fighting the addiction Sly also engage in other activities which help in keeping the mind busy. Once the mind is kept busy, the user lacks time to think of the drug hence strengthening the avoidance process.  Recovering journey needs dedication which can only be attained when the user is ready to let go of the substance.

Part 3

Smoking cessation can be influenced by the user’s desire to refrain from the substance. The healing process might take 8-12 weeks. While the user undergoes the process of healing, she will as well develop new behaviour such as improving on her diet, and being both physically and mentally upright, which is very important in health.  Improving a person’s health is a significant reinforcement that comes with smoking cessation.

In most cases, it is easier to realize the effect of the drug on the user’s health. For instance, the fact of Sly who had health issues having two miscarriages and even isolation problems.  The therapy is beneficial as it also allows the addict to spend much of their time with people to avoid the feeling of loneliness. As they continue to undergo the therapy, they also adopt the new skills and activities they never had before.

Apart from adopting new skills living a healthy life is essential. A healthy lifestyle makes the person enjoy every day of their life. It also helps in reducing the chances of falling sick. Exercising is a necessary aspect of behavioural change(Leitenberg, Burchard, Burchard, Fuller & Lysaght, 1977). However, exercising can only be impactful when the patient has accepted that there is a need for change in behaviour.  In Sly’s case, she is experiencing both mental and social change as reinforcement. Mentally she is being healed from the consistent urge of smoking. Initially, Sly can do anything just to a have a puff after every meal or whenever she felt lonely. She believes that it is only this drug that can satisfy her need. Her mental thinking is based on the effectivity of this drug. However, while undergoing the therapy, she is denied the opportunity to use the substance and every single time she might feel in need of it, she is exposed to something else. As this continuous, she begins to lose interest in the substance and at the same time, her mental thinking transform making her believe that she can live without the drug. Similarly, her social life also changes. Sly lived a lonely life assuming that everyone is against her because of her uncontrollable smoking behaviour. She isolated herself from her family, especially after the two miscarriages which brought in various controversies.

Meanwhile, as she is exposed to cognitive behaviour therapy, she realizes that no one hates her, and everyone wants her to quit using tobacco. Therefore, she is expected to engage in various exercises to help her quit smoking. The depression that comes with smoking can only be overcome by engaging in social activities. For example, interacting with other people or even joining training institutions to avoid spending time alone. The therapy is very significant because as the victims heal from the addiction, they as well transform their social and mental life as they improve their health status.  Once the target behaviour is obtained, Sly will live a healthy life like other individuals. The isolation will be no more, and at the same time, the health issues will be reduced. Smoking cessation is for the benefit of the addict.  Tobacco is very addictive, and the addicts rarely accept their problem, making it difficult to expose them to change (“Tobacco Addiction: Symptoms and Treatments”, 2019). The few individuals who accept change end up having the desired behaviour.

Part 4

Behaviour change programs are programs that aid the change of the undesired behaviour (“Build a behaviour-based Safety Program in 8 Simple Steps | eCompliance”, 2019). These programs are developed to help the victims of certain drugs to abstain from the drug. For instance, the Integral Behavior Change program which is meant to control excessive consumption of drugs, specifically tobacco consumption. The program is based on the idea that excessive drug consumption is harmful to human health. The program advocates for the appropriate consumption of tobacco. At the same time, the program has a rehab centre where the addicts are confined. Once the person has been identified as the addict, the therapists take the responsibility of rehabilitating the person, thus helping her to live a healthy life.  Rehabilitation has always been considered as the best way to heal those suffering from addiction. However, rehabilitating these individuals with no proper guidance might not help but instead influence the effects of the drugs.

Integral Behavior Change is one of the significant psychological programs that have influenced the change in an individual’s behaviour. The possibilities of recovering from the addiction using this program are high as compared to other programs. Despite having numerous challenges, this program is very significant for the change of behaviour. It allows the victim to go through various practices that keep the mind busy. At the same time, it also enhances social change among tobacco users. The program is also suitable as it advocates for physical activities making the person be physically fit as they recover from the addiction. While undergoing the recovery process, the environment surrounding these individuals are normally clean and tidy. It is also tobacco-free with a disclaimer of no smoking around. The environment becomes effective for helping these victims fastening the healing process. The environment must be kept favourable to enhance the recovery process. For a tobacco addict, the healing might take time due to the relapsing process.

Meanwhile, with a tidy environment and proper guidance, smoking cessation becomes possible. Therefore, for the case of Sly, the possibility of being healed is high with the acceptance of the need for change. The desired behaviour in her case is smoking cessation. The positive reinforcement is engaging in physical activities as well as avoiding the smoking events.  One of the primary reinforcement method used in Sly’s case is the extinction method.

Extinction refers to a behavioural phenomenon whereby both operant and classical conditioned are observed(Podlesnik & Bai, 2015). In operant, when a behaviour that had been reinforced ceased from producing reinforcing consequences, it automatically stops occurring. Similarly, in classical conditioning in case a conditioned stimulus occurred alone to the extent of not being able to predict the unconditioned stimulus conditioned responding will automatically stop.  Just like in operant condition, in Sly’s addiction, a failure to smoke conditions withdrawal symptom. It is also possible to experience learning extinction in classical conditioning.  In this case, a context can provoke a conditioned response when paired with an unconditioned stimulus. Unconditioned stimulus refers to the stimulus that naturally triggers a specific behavioural change. A particular environment can as well be conditioned when paired with the unconditioned stimulus. The program which strives to stop the influence of tobacco provides an environment which if conditioned with unconditioned stimulus will influence a change in behaviour. Extinction, in general, is a process not providing a reinforcement which has been maintaining a specific behaviour. The method aims at preventing the continued use of tobacco. However, for the effectivity of this method, it must be done repeatedly.

Part 5

Implementing a behaviour-based program is as challenging as developing the program itself (“IRIS | Page 11: Implement the Intervention”, 2019). For example, Sly, who has a problem with smoking, can only be helped when the program has a formal plan or policies for such cases. The policies or plans are, at times, called the behaviour intervention plan. The behaviour intervention plan can only be implemented if it has a positive change in behaviour. The program has three major categories. The first part states the problem, and the second part explains the reason behind the occurring of the behaviour. Finally, the last part demonstrates strategies and supports, which can help in reducing its effect or preventing the behaviour from occurring. While implementing the behaviour, the program manager must ensure the program meets the tree parts of the intervention plan. The first step to consider while implementing the intervention plan is to observe the target behaviour and the individuals to undergo the changing process. Testing of the addict also crucial as it will give precise details about the addict. The testing process is also known as a functional behaviour assessment.  Once the program meets the basic three categories implementing it becomes easy than when it lacks some essential segments. Implementing and establishing the program can only be effective when it triggers a change in the target behaviour. The change in behaviour is the main goal of developing an intervention plan. While establishing it becomes important, maintaining the records from the program becomes a necessity.

The statistics obtained from the program since it was implemented suggest that at least 70% addicts who went through it recover from their smoking addiction hence making the program effective. Similarly, the program has been very significant as it increases the healing process. It is evident that the program helps in the change of behaviour due to its ability to engage in functional behaviour assessment. It allows also allows the individuals to realize the effects of the program in their health while training them to avoid using the drug.  From the program, it is observable that Sly demonstrate withdrawal symptoms only for the first week and the rest of the week she adjusted to the surrounding. With this program, the response frequency is faster as compared to the use of therapies alone. It is, therefore, essential to note that healing from drug addiction is a process that requires both treatment and an added aspect of behavioural intervention. Changing undesired behaviour can only be possible with the acceptance of the person.

The target behaviour can be influenced by engaging the person in various therapies, including other physical activities. Intervention for behaviour change is supposed to be implemented like every day. However, the data about the progress of the person needs to be collected regularly.  It is vital to collect the data frequently because changes in behaviour also occur often. At times it is argued behaviour change might intensify at the earlier stage of intervention before decreasing, and this needs to be approached differently. The environmental factors also have a purpose in the behaviour change. For instance, for the case of Sly, implementing a tobacco-free zone will strengthen the affectivity of the intervention plan. Once the desired behaviour has been attained, the therapists have to maintain their behaviour.

Part 6

Generally, the intervention implemented has been very impactful. The data received from the intervention plan demonstrate that the intervention has been able to increase the healing process. At the same time, the intervention demonstrates its effectiveness in that it offers a solution for the problems facing the tobacco addicts. It also shows its effectivity in demonstrating its three parts of approaching the problem. From the data recorded in the above intervention, it is clear that the intervention has been successful in changing the behaviour. The steps used to improve the behaviour are very systematic, with one leading to another, making the change faster. From the data provided, it is evident that the program has been able to attain its goal. The intervention plan acted as a staircase towards a new behaviour. Sly’s change in behaviour demonstrates the effectivity of the plan. Her rapid healing process also plays a significant role in postulating its usefulness.

Smoking cessation is a target behaviour that Sly exhibit after the therapy. The behaviour has been able to suppress the undesired behaviour which stems from peer pressure and idleness. Sly’s journey to fight her addiction has not been easy. She has encountered so many challenges to the extent of isolating herself from other people, including her family members. Despite having attended a number of therapies, Sly was still unable to manage her smoking behaviour.  Her extreme smoking behaviour affected her health-wise. She had two miscarriages and other tobacco-caused diseases.  However, with the development of the behaviour program healing from tobacco addiction has not been as difficult as it was before. The behaviour program provides steps that can help in preventing the influence of the drug. At the same time, the extinction method explains the reinforcement towards the desired behaviour. The extinction method is based on both the operant and the classical conditioning. The two conditions are based on rewards and punishment. They are geared towards maintaining a positive or desired behaviour. While implementing an intervention plan, it is advisable to consider certain factors for its affectivity.

The target behaviour can only be met when the intervention plan is favourable for the addict to adopt. The policies entail in the intervention plan should be flexible enough for the change of behaviour. Smoking cessation is the target objective in this case, and for the aim to be successfully met, the addict must be ready to encounter various behaviour alterations. Sly, who has been struggling with the addiction, has finally attained found hope in living a healthy lifestyle like other people. The dependency, which led to the loss of friends and family members, is eventually coming to an end. The results from the implemented behaviour change program portray a significant change in Sly’s behaviour. The program which was performed for the sake of transforming undesired behaviour to the desired action has proved its purpose. As the program provides steps to recovery from the addiction, environmental factors stood out as one of the critical factors considered. Environmental factors may include the arrangement of the area, the people surrounding the place as well as the living condition of that particular place. The environmental factors can play a significant effect on someone’s change of behaviour.  Smoking cessation can only be possible with effective plan intervention.