Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105276

Elizabeth Smith, PhD¹, Virginia Blackman, BSN, RN, CCRN¹, and Ruth E. Malone, RN, PhD². (1) Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0612, San Francisco, CA 94143-0612, 415-502-5238, libbys@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Dept. of Social & Behavioral Sciences and Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0612, San Francisco, CA 94143-0612

High prevalence of tobacco use in the U.S. military diminishes troop health and readiness and increases costs. Longstanding relationships between the tobacco industry and the U.S. military, including special promotions to this market, contribute to smoking prevalence. We searched previously-secret tobacco industry documents to learn about companies' actions, motivations, successes, and failures in reaching this market. Tobacco industry promotions have involved the cooperation of numerous military and quasi-military organizations, including the commissary and exchange systems, the office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and military Wives' Clubs, despite official Department of Defense goals of reducing and deglamorizing tobacco use. For instance, in 1991, the commanding officer of the Pearl Harbor Naval Station wrote to RJR delineating “everything in Hawaii we did to . . . advertise, promote and ‘move product' for RJR merchandise” that Navy personnel undertook. Philip Morris promoted Marlboro at Desert Storm “victory celebrations . . Over forty locations now have welcome home signs [to veterans] in place featuring Marlboro brand identification.” Some activities, such as “coupons for free cigarettes to new recruits” seem designed to specifically thwart the “deglamorization” goal by making the cigarettes the reward for completing the rigors of boot camp.Military recruits are at an age and in a circumstance to be particularly at risk for smoking uptake, and the tobacco industry has taken full advantage. Tobacco control advocates need to be aware of these activities in order to “de-institutionalize” smoking in the military.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to
• recognize the role of military and quasi-military institutions in promoting tobacco;
• understand the role of tobacco industry promotions in this market;
• target tobacco control efforts in this population.

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Special Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.