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Memo

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course

Professor’s Name

Date
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Memo

TO: Congress Representative

FROM: Registered Nurse

DATE: 28th September 2022

SUBJECT: Healthcare Policy to Reduce Smoking in Manhattan

I am a registered nurse residing in Manhattan, the region you represent. I want to

notify you about air pollution due to cigarettes and marijuana smoking and how it impacts the

community’s health. Smoking causes atmospheric pollution that impairs neurological

development and cognitive capabilities in children. Research indicates that air pollution

causes cardio-respiratory issues, psychomotor function delay, behavioral issues, and autism

in children (Ahmed et al., 2022). Therefore, this issue is a critical challenge to the young

generation.

The increased use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing cigarettes contributes to severe

illnesses, such as asthma and cancer. According to the World Health Organization report,

more the 200000 children get diagnosed with cancer globally each year, and it is estimated to

reach 21 million people by 2030 (Endalamaw et al., 2021). Without sufficient interventions,

the issue will lead to a serious health crisis.

As the congress representative, I would like you to enact laws restricting the

marketing of cigarettes and marijuana. Studies indicate that cancer is associated with

environmental hazards such as high nitrate levels in the water, secondhand smoke, and air

pollution (Nelson et al., 2017). Therefore, the step will minimize smoking, air pollution in the

region, and serious health issues and deaths. Reducing cancer and respiratory illnesses will

create a healthier community with minimized hospital expenses.

Nurses are among professionals that are highly capable of minimizing smoking

among people. Therefore, I will educate the community on the harmful effects of smoking,
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assist smokers in accessing medication, and arrange counseling services and follow-up

activities. Research shows that combining treatments and counseling increases the chances of

smoking cessation to about 70% to 100% (Fathi, 2020). The steps will help people to avoid

smoking, and smokers quit the habit successfully.

I urge you to offer your support in solving this critical issue. Thank you so much for

your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely
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References

Ahmed, S., Mishra, G., Moss, K., Yang, I., Lycett, K., & Knibbs, L. (2022). Maternal and

childhood ambient air pollution exposure and mental health symptoms and

psychomotor development in children: An Australian population-based longitudinal

study. Environment International, 158, 1-12.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021006280/pdfft?

md5=30ee9dff186ad2302ee5463dc4bfe563&pid=1-s2.0-S0160412021006280-

main.pdf

Endalamaw, A., Assimamaw, N., Ayele, T., Muche, A., Zeleke, E., Wondim, A., Belay, G.,

Birhanu, Y., Tazebew, A., Techane, M., Kassa, S., & Wubneh, C. (2021). Prevalence

of childhood cancer among children attending referral hospitals of outpatient

department in Ethiopia. BMC Cancer, 21(1), 1-10.

https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12885-021-08014-0.pdf

Fathi, J. (2020). Tobacco use: The current state of affairs and how nurses can help patients

quit. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 25(3).

https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodical

s/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-25-2020/No3-Sept-2020/Tobacco-Use-Current-State-of-

Affairs-and-How-Nurses-Can-Help.html

Nelson, L., Valle, J., King, G., Mills, P., Richardson, M., Roberts, E., Smith, D., & English,

P. (2017). Estimating the proportion of childhood cancer cases and costs attributable

to the environment in California. American Journal of Public Health, 107(5), 756-

762.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5388954/pdf/AJPH.2017.303690.pdf