"But it just has that sort of feel about it, a leper"--Stigma, smoke-free legislation and public health

Abstract

The unintended negative consequences of smoke-free legislation for some suggest that tobacco control strategies need to consider how smokers who experience increased stigma are supported by public health to address their smoking while continuing to create smoke-free environments.

Contrasting Smokers' and Snus Users' Perceptions of Personal Tobacco Behavior in Norway

“…It is possible that the smoking ban introduced in Norway in 2004 decreased the social status of smoking and increased the attractiveness of snus as a substitute for nicotine delivery in places where smoking is forbidden (K. E. Lund, 2006). Smoking has now become a deviant behaviour, and the perceived stigma experienced by smokers has been highlighted in several studies (Graham, 2012;Ritchie et al, 2010;Stuber et al, 2008). Our study shows that smokers perceive negative social disapproval and moral judgement about their smoking.…”

“…Cigarette packs carry graphic health warnings about cancer, stroke, emphysema and heart failure, but snus boxes have warnings only in a text format and these focuses exclusively on the potential addictiveness. Fuelled by governmental actions, such as smoke-free policies and media campaigns stressing the danger of second-hand smoke, smoking has become increasingly deviant (Graham, 2012;Peretti-Watel, Beck, Legleye, & Moatti, 2007;Ritchie, Amos, & Martin, 2010;Stuber, Galea, & Link, 2008).…”

Tobacco Denormalization as a Public Health Strategy: Implications for Sexual and Gender Minorities

“…Smokers can come to be seen as "weakwilled", "outcasts" and "lepers", and abusers of public services. [15][16][17] Researchers have found increasingly strong anti-smoking attitudes in the United States, largely due to the denormalization of tobacco use. 6,7,14,18 Though tobacco denormalization is widely lauded as a successful population-level approach for reducing the prevalence of smoking, 4,6,9 debate surrounding the ethics of using stigma in tobacco control has emerged in the literature.…”

Differential access to health care and support? A qualitative analysis of how Australian smokers conceptualise and respond to stigma

“…There is substantial evidence documenting smokers' experiences of stigmatisation in light of tobacco denormalisation policies Burgess et al, 2009;Greaves, Oliffe, Ponic, Kelly, & Bottorff, 2010;Kim & Shanahan, 2003;Phillips, Amos, Ritchie, Cunningham-Burley, & Martin, 2007;Ritchie, Amos, & Martin, 2010;Thompson et al, 2007;Wigginton & Lee, 2013). For example, the authors of an analysis of interviews with 40 Scottish smokers argued that since the introduction of smoke-free legislation, smokers had experienced a loss of social status in public spaces.…”

“…For example, the authors of an analysis of interviews with 40 Scottish smokers argued that since the introduction of smoke-free legislation, smokers had experienced a loss of social status in public spaces. They noted instances where smokers self-stigmatised their own smoking behaviour, coped with stigma by smoking in less visible places, and smoked less when out socialising (Ritchie et al, 2010).…”