ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — During November, Americans are urged to adopt a healthier lifestyle by quitting tobacco products.
Public Health Social Worker Corey Fitzgerald is the U.S. Army Public Health Center’s lead for Tobacco-Free Living, a Department of Defense initiative. APHC is a tobacco-free campus.
“Tobacco-Free Living is about adopting a lifestyle that avoids all tobacco product types and living free from secondhand smoke exposure,” he said.
Impacting Health and Readiness Tobacco-Free Living, he said, benefits the military community as a whole because tobacco-free individuals are stronger and healthier.
“The bottom line is it is about health and readiness,” he said. “Tobacco product use is the leading cause of preventable disease and disability in the United States. Tobacco-Free Living is a way of intervening.”
According to the APHC website, https://phc.amedd.army.mil, the short-term impacts of tobacco use on readiness include increased numbers of sick call visits and increased incidence of cold weather and training injuries. The long-term health hazards include reduced lung capacity, reduced fine motor coordination, slower wound healing and greatly decreased stamina.
Additionally, tobacco use is a major cause of heart disease, stroke, and diseases of the blood vessels. Tobacco use also causes cancer of the lung, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder and cervix.
Tobacco 21
On Dec. 20, 2019, legislation was signed by President Donald Trump to raise the federal minimum age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21. This legislation makes it unlawful for any retailer to sell tobacco products to any person younger than 21 years old, with no military exemption.
Fitzgerald said hopefully this initiative will improve the health and readiness of the force.
“This is another win for us, as a nation,” Fitzgerald said.
Using technology to help quit
Fitzgerald recommends You Can Quit 2, https://www.ycq2.org, an educational campaign for the U.S. military. This website has a 24/7 Quit Tobacco Live Chat, available to those who need answers to questions about quitting and for those who need support or encouragement.
“Our coaches are available 24/7 to help you reach your goal of becoming tobacco-free, no matter where you are on your journey or how close you are to reaching your goal,” the website states.
Another resource is the National Cancer Institute’s www.smokefree.gov, which provides a wealth of information, including a free SmokeFree smartphone application. This app offers help based on your smoking patterns, moods, motivation to quit and quit[1]ting goals. The site also provides an online chat program and a text messaging service.
Additionally, all states have quit lines with counselors who are trained specifically to help smokers quit. Call 1-800-784-8669 to connect to your state’s quit line. Hours of operation and services vary from state to state.
Beneficiaries of TRICARE can also turn to their smoking cessation program for help. For more information about TRICARE’s tobacco cessation services, visit https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/TobaccoCessationServices.
Fitzgerald recommends smokers seek out family and friends that can provide support. Smokers can also participate in the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19. This is an annual event that encourages and offers support to smokers to make a plan to quit smoking or to quit smoking on the day of the event.
Harford County Health Department
School and Community Tobacco Education Specialist Dorothy “Dottie” Ruff said the Harford County Health Department has moved to free, confidential tobacco cessation counseling over the phone due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicotine replacement therapy products, including patches, lozenges and gum, may be available at no cost to those who qualify.
“People love the fact that they can talk one-on-one with a person; they will actually get their story heard,” she said. “I have so many people in the processes of quitting right now, it really blows my mind. I am so proud of what it has become.”
Ruff said tobacco users will usually quit several times before it sticks.
“When you realize you need to quit for yourself you have more drive and more success for quitting,” she said. “So, if it takes a couple of times, you are not a bad person; let’s start again.”
Ruff said vaping is more popular with young people. Different flavors like cotton candy or bubble gum are “very appealing” to them. Children and teens usually don’t realize how much nicotine they are vaping, she said.
“Most kids don’t want to be controlled by something,” she said. “The tobacco industry is controlling you by giving this hidden nicotine. It is controlling to do it over and over.”
For more information, visit https://harfordcountyhealth.com/smoking-cessation/,
call 410-942-7937, or 443-252-6331 or email hchd.cancertobacco@maryland.gov.
AWC Provides Support
The Army Wellness Center at APG provides support with tobacco-free living through prevention and advocacy.
“Our AWC staff provide tobacco education to prevent the initiation of tobacco use, screen for tobacco use, and refer tobacco users to the appropriate service for tobacco cessation and follow-up,” said Chris Sorrells, AWC director. “AWC health educators also provide health coaching to guide their clients to make health-related behavioral changes through goal-setting, education, motivation, programming, support, appropriate progressions and referrals when necessary.”
For more information, call 410-306-1024.
Lung Cancer Screening
November is also Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 9 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes. Lung cancer patients are often not symptomatic.
Lung Nurse Navigator Clara Yoder, with the MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, said lung cancer screening is important for patients who are eligible. It is better to get a screening sooner rather than later, she said.
“If we were to find cancer [earlier] they will have more treatment options,” she said.
For more information, visit https://www.medstarcancer.org/conditions/thoracic-cancer/lung-cancer/.
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