An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

The Military Health System Wants To Help You Quit Tobacco

  • Published
  • By Emily Greene
  • Military Health System Public Affairs
FALLS CHURCH, Va. --  While tobacco use, in any form, is highly addicting and can lead to serious health problems there is good news; effective treatments and helpful resources exist for anyone who wishes to make a change towards lifelong health and vitality.

First, the facts:

· Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States.
· The harmful effects of smoking extend far beyond the smoker. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause serious diseases and death.
· Tobacco use greatly increases the risk of cancers of the lungs and mouth, as well as conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, heart disease, stroke, heart attack, vascular disease and aneurysm. Smoking has also been linked to leukemia, cataracts and pneumonia.

The 2008 DoD Health Related Behaviors Survey indicated that smoking among service members has decreased only slightly since 2002 (three percent decrease, from 34 to 31 percent). The use of smokeless tobacco in the military remained steady from 2005 to 2008 with a mere one percent decrease (from 15 to 14 percent).

Although tobacco usage can be a difficult habit to break, there is help readily available. Individual and group counseling and support groups and programs have been found to be effective in treating tobacco dependence, often in conjunction with either over-the-counter or prescription nicotine replacement products. Other treatments include brief clinical interventions and behavioral cessation therapies.

TRICARE offers smoking and tobacco cessation coverage for all beneficiaries not eligible for Medicare. The TRICARE Tobacco Cessation Program covers most inpatient and outpatient care that is medically necessary and considered proven.

The "Quit Tobacco, Make Everyone Proud" program offers information and tips, alongside counseling, hotlines, forums and other tools for people who want to stop using tobacco. It also offers assistance and support to anyone who may have a loved one who smokes, dips or uses snuff.

The DoD is committed to reducing the use of tobacco in the defense community and improving the health and wellbeing of the force, their families and the wider defense community.

For 24/7 help with substance abuse, call 1-800-342-9647 or visit MilitaryOneSource.com.

Read more about tobacco use and how to stop.