Social patterns of smoking behavior: trends and practice implications.

In this article the authors contend that the social work profession has paid scant attention to the problem of tobacco use. The article reviews the literature on the health effects of tobacco, the impact of smoking on vulnerable populations, and the marketing practices of the tobacco industry. The underlying premise is that personal behavior is heavily influenced by the political and social environment and that from childhood on individuals are enticed to smoke. The article makes recommendations for political action, including coalition building, community organizing, and political advocacy.