RWBAHC to adopt new nicotine use policy effective March 1

By Joan VaseyJanuary 16, 2015

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On March 1, a new smoke-free and nicotine use policy will become effective for all Medical Command medical, dental, Soldier and veterinary clinics throughout Fort Huachuca.

This change will affect the entire Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, also known as RWBAHC, to include outdoor areas and parking lots. The same change will take place on the Dental Command's Dental Clinic campus, Soldier Clinic, and the Veterinary Clinic on post. For now, at all other Fort Huachuca locations and facilities, smoking and use of nicotine products will be allowed only in designated smoking areas which meet post policy.

"Since those in medical practice should model the health-related behaviors we'd like to see people practice, we decided the RWBAHC campus would be the first place to make the change," said Col. Lance Raney, RWBAHC commander.

"Tobacco use is one of the single greatest causes of preventable disease and death in the United States, and increasing efforts to provide safe and healthy environments to the Fort Huachuca community is a priority of RWBAHC and the Army," Raney said.

Army wide, installations are moving toward a totally smoke free environment, with the goal of all Army installations being totally smoke free by 2025. This effort isn't about denying the rights of smokers; rather it is about encouraging and creating environments to make healthy choices.

The Community Health Promotion Council of Fort Huachuca has been leading the effort to identify, sets priorities, and deliver an integrated approach to effectively coordinate interventions that can optimize the well-being and health of the workforce and the community.

"We are looking at community-wide initiatives and policies that can provide a healthy environment for both the workforce and the Fort Huachuca population that lives and plays on and off post. Tobacco free environments not only provide support for people who want to quit, but also to reduce the rates of secondhand smoke that is harmful to non-smokers," said Audrey Sienkiewicz, the health promotion officer for Fort Huachuca.

When people smoke, it impacts the health of those around them, because secondhand smoke has more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer. Studies publicized by the American Cancer Society have shown that non-smokers can develop smoking related diseases such as lung cancer merely by breathing secondhand smoke emitted by those who live or work with them.

RWBAHC has a number or resources available to those eligible to use the facility. In addition to smoking cessation classes and individual counseling sessions through the Preventive Health Clinic, those trying to quit smoking can get prescription drugs through their primary health care provider. RWBAHC also has a number of pamphlets and other materials designed to help people kick the nicotine habit.

Cochise Health and Social Services has partnered with Fort Huachuca leaders to develop tobacco-free policies for all medical facilities on the post.

Cochise Health and Social Services is providing multimedia support to promote the new policy and will provide ongoing cessation assistance to non-military personnel though Arizona Smoker's Help Line, ASHLine.

For more information about the smoke-free policy coming to Fort Huachuca, contact the health promotion officer at 520.454.2075, or the Cochise County Health and Social Services at 20.432.9495.

For additional resources to help quit tobacco use, visit Ucanquit2.org, ASHline.org, or call 1.800.556.6222.

For military tobacco cessation assistance, contact your primary care manager to schedule an appointment or Army Public Health Nursing at 520.533.9139.