Tobacco Prevention Notes
This Veteran’s Day, discover how the VA helps veterans stop smoking, dipping, and chewing tobacco. No matter how long you’ve been using tobacco, when you stop using it, you’ll notice some positive changes almost immediately. You’ll also improve your health over the years to come.
Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Currently, active-duty service members and veterans are more likely than civilians to use tobacco products. Many service members start using tobacco after they enter military service.
Furthermore, cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness.
Improve your physical and mental health Any time is the right time to stop using tobacco. Whether you’re 18 or 81, you and those around you will feel the benefits of stopping tobacco use, and the benefits will continue to build over time.
When you stop smoking, you lower your risk for the common cold, the flu, and pneumonia. You also can reduce feelings of anxiety, stress and depression - giving anxiety and depression medications the best chance of working properly. Your nights may become more restful when you quit tobacco use because the nicotine in tobacco can make it difficult to sleep.
Just one year after you stop smoking, your risk of heart disease goes down by half. Within 2 to 5 years, your risk of stroke decreases and may match that of a nonsmoker. Within 5 to 10 years, your risk of certain types of cancer is cut in half. Similar benefits apply when you stop using smokeless tobacco.
If you are an active-duty Service member or retiree, you and your family may be able to access tobacco cessation counseling, cessation medicines, and other services through your TRICARE coverage. Veterans enrolled in the VA Health Care System have access to VA resources and services to help them quit, including tobacco cessation medications and counseling. There are also resources available in your local area, including your state quitline, which you can reach by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
* Counseling: VA offers group and individual counseling to talk about everyday tobacco use, identify triggers for use, and make lifestyle changes that can help Veterans quit. Counseling is available in person or through VA Video Connect, VA’s secure videoconferencing app. You can use My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, to send your VA provider a secure message to learn more about your options.
* Medications: To help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings that come with stopping tobacco use, VA offers prescription medications and nicotine replacement therapy in the form of nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, and nasal spray. You can also learn more about your medication options by reaching out to your VA provider on My Healthe-Vet.
* Quit VET: Veterans can call 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855784-8838) for counseling and help with developing a plan to stop tobacco use, such as smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Quitline counselors are available Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET, to help you prepare for potential challenges and avoid relapse. Counselors offer continued support in English or Spanish through follow-up calls.
* SmokefreeVET: For tools and tips you can use to stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco, sign up for SmokefreeVET by texting VET to 47848. SmokefreeVET provides regular text messages and provides a message with extra support when Veterans text the keywords URGE, STRESS, or SMOKED to 47848. Text the word DIPPED instead of SMOKED to receive a tailored tip for quitting smokeless tobacco. Learn more on the SmokefreeVET website.
For more information, visit CDC.gov/TipsMilitary.
