Oral

This session looks at support for smokefree troops and veterans. Tobacco use costs the military $1.4 billion per year, reduces the readiness of service members, leads to higher costs for the Veterans Administration health system, impairs wound healing, and ultimately kills more service members than do combat injuries. Numerous initiatives have tried to reduce or eliminate tobacco use among service members, but these have frequently been rescinded or undermined by Congress. To improve the delivery of inpatient smoking cessation services, a nurse-administered Tobacco Tactics program was implemented and evaluated among inpatients at three large Veterans Affairs hospitals. While Veterans Affairs hospitals have been smoke-free inside of buildings since 1991, smoke-free campuses have rarely been initiated. Staff attitudes regarding making the Veterans Affairs hospital a smoke-free campus, except for the mandated smoking shelters was examined. On the other hand, tobacco industry contributions to worthy causes and “partnerships” with community organizations aid the industry by silencing potential opposition and helping it rehabilitate its image. Since 1985, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have sponsored an annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games, with additional support from corporate and other donors including the tobacco industry.

Session Objectives: Describe tobacco cessation programs for military servicemen. Evaluate efforts to promote smoke-free military facilities. Assess collaborative efforts between the military and the tobacco industry.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)