Tobacco cessation promotes readiness

By Mr. Wesley P Elliott (Army Medicine)November 8, 2016

Tobacco cessation promotes readiness
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (Nov. 8, 2016) -- November is Smoking Cessation month and for the U.S. Army, tobacco and nicotine cessation are important throughout the year due to the impacts on readiness, combat effectiveness, and the individual Soldier's physical and mental ability to fulfill the wartime mission.

"Despite decades of time and resources dedicated to tobacco use reduction and control measures, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world," said Lt. Col. Kari A. McRae, Public Health Nursing Staff Officer, Army Public Health Center.

The negative impacts of tobacco use on combat readiness can include a prolonged wound and postoperative healing after injuries, and an increased risk of wound infections caused by nicotine-related vasoconstriction.

There is an association between tobacco addiction and mental health diagnoses, mood disorders, and substance abuse as well as compromised visual acuity and night vision, compromised dental health, lower fitness performance levels, and an increased risk for training injuries, stated McRae.

Tobacco use has been shown to negatively impact the Army's civilian workforce by increasing workplace absenteeism due to smoking related health issues.

"Quitting tobacco as soon as you can, allows the healing process to begin to decrease or reverse many of the negative health consequences that resulted from cigarette smoking. The health benefits of quitting tobacco actually begin within 20 minutes after quitting," said McRae.

Hookah pipes and e-cigarettes or vaping (electronic nicotine delivery systems) have increased in popularity and lend themselves as gateway devices for youth. Vaping or e-cigarettes are not safer than other forms of tobacco use.

"There is no evidence to support that any type of burned tobacco product is safer than another," said McRae. Tobacco products labeled as light, hand-rolled, natural, herbal, clove, flavored, menthol, cigars or cigarillos, nor the by-products of hookah smoke or e-cigarette vapor have been proven to be safer.

"Users should be aware that acute and chronic adverse health impacts result from all of the following: the tobacco component alone; the nicotine component alone; the toxins and carcinogens in tobacco and liquids utilized in hookahs and e-nicotine delivery systems; and the additional toxins and carcinogens created from the burning components of hookahs and e-cigarettes."

Despite claims that electronic forms of 'smoking' are safer alternatives to traditional tobacco cigarettes, toxins and carcinogens in the burned smoke and burning vapor from all traditional or e-cigarettes and hookah pipes continue to cause serious health conditions in both the user and potentially others who inhale these chemicals second hand.

Tobacco addiction is a chronic disease and may take multiple attempts to achieve lasting cessation, stated McRae. According to the 2014 Health Related Behaviors Survey, respondents revealed that the most likely methods of tobacco cessation are the cold-turkey approach (55-58 percent), gradual decrease in tobacco use (33-59 percent), and the use of prescription medication (22-31 percent). A combination of behavior interventions and cessation medication or nicotine replacement treatments is shown to be more effective than any sole method of cessation.

Tobacco cessation resources are available free of charge to anyone who wants to quit tobacco through National, State, Department of Defense, and Army programs and services. If you are uncertain about which services you qualify for, your personal healthcare provider is the best place to start.

The DoD continues to support both the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Prevention Strategy goals for tobacco reduction and the Secretary of Defense's Policy Memorandum 16-001, Department of Defense Tobacco Policy, encourages all military services to continue tobacco reduction initiatives. The policy targets issues such as restricting tobacco use areas, eliminating financial incentives for on post tobacco purchases, improving tobacco cessation programs, and reviewing efforts to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in housing and areas frequented by children.

The Army has also implemented Army Regulation 600-63, Army Health Promotion, and MEDCOM OPORD 15-48, Tobacco Free Living, to focus efforts on transforming the Army culture from tobacco permissive to tobacco free.

Related Links:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tobacco Cessation

Smoke Free.gov Website

U.S. Department of Defense, Quit Tobacco Website