301 - Short Essay

Stacy Rivera
Intro to Public Health Admin
09/17/2020
Question 1: Impact of Public Health Contribution on Population Health
Cancer prevention
Cancer is a horrific disease that has ravaged many lives in the United States. In recent
years the U.S. has shifted their attention to the impact cancer has on public health and began to
work towards cancer prevention rather than cancer treatment alone. The immense costs of
treating cancer have a huge impact on the national budget and as the population continues to
“gray” along with the aging senior citizens who are living longer healthcare costs are already on
the rise. However, research in the last decades has shed light on links to factors that could cause
cancer leading to public awareness of certain products. For example, tobacco use has been linked
to diseases such as cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, “Tobacco use is linked to
at least 15 cancer types, and eliminating smoking in the United States would eliminate almost
one-third of the nation’s cancer deaths” (NCI, 2020). Efforts to control tobacco use included an
increase in the price of tobacco products as well as televised advertising geared towards
educating the public about the negative effects of tobacco use. The efforts of the public health
community proved to be successful as “cigarette smoking in U.S. adults ... reached an all-time
low of 13.7% in 2018” (CDC, 2019). Public health research on cancer has also led to the
discovery of hereditary factors that could assist in identifying populations with increased risk of
cancer. The data collected has allowed researchers to document trends of various cancers that
aid in the understanding and prevention of cancer. The public health community recognizes
health disparities which prevent early cancer detection such as lack of access to cancer screening
and higher levels of tobacco use in certain populations both of which can be reduced via public
health resources. The continued evolvement of technology, biotechnology, and medicine along
with public health resources has set up the U.S. to succeed in decreasing cancer related deaths.
References
Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. Adults Hits All-Time Low. (2019, November 14).
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p1114-smoking-low.html
Research Areas: Cancer and Public Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.cancer.gov/research/areas/public-health
Question 2: Public Health Concern for people of Appalachia
The Appalachian Mountains consist of about twelve states including West Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, etc. This region has high rates of poverty, obesity, suicide,
and overall higher mortality rates. Another major issue that plagues this region is substance
abuse, specifically opiate abuse, which has led to an increase in drug related deaths. According to
Moody et al. (2018), “West Virginia has the highest rate of drug overdoses in the country”
(Moody et al., 2018) and drug related deaths continue to be on the rise as the epidemic worsens.
Addiction is a powerful disease that many wish to overcome, however, numerous times even
individuals with ample resources are not able to overcome it so where does this leave the people
of Appalachia? Since many people in Appalachia are living in poverty and don’t have health
insurance many citizens don’t have access to the treatment they need due to the high costs which
makes it less expensive for them to buy drugs than to receive help. This issue requires immediate
government and public health resources to make treatment more affordable and accessible to
those who need it. One solution would be to redirect both state and federal funds to a program
that provides individuals with grants to pay for treatment. These grants would be offered on a
one-time basis at no cost to first time offenders and reduced cost to second time offenders who
have been arrested on drug related charges. The program would also be available on a one time
basis for those who apply even without an arrest. Additionally, the public health community
could partner with treatment centers in the area to offer treatment pro bono to offset government
spending and support the longevity of the program. This issue requires the resources of the
government and community alike to make an impact on this epidemic. Sobriety is a challenge for
many but by providing substance users treatment at low to no cost they are being given a chance
to overcome their addiction and set themselves up for a better life.
References
Moody, L., Satterwhite, E., & Bickel, W. K. (2017). Substance Use in Rural Central Appalachia:
Current Status and Treatment Considerations. Rural mental health, 41(2), 123–135.
https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000064

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Stacy Rivera

Intro to Public Health Admin

Question 1: Impact of Public Health Contribution on Population Health

Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p1114-smoking-low.html

Research Areas: Cancer and Public Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from

Question 2: Public Health Concern for people of Appalachia

to overcome their addiction and set themselves up for a better life.

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