Smoking in the United States military has been observed in previous wars, but the close ties of smoking with the US military began in World War I when tobacco companies began targeting military personnel through cigarette distribution to soldiers and finally the inclusion of cigarettes into in rations. Although the military has sought to implement a tobacco control initiative, the relationship between smoking and military personnel has survived to this day as smoking levels remain high, despite a decrease in civilian level. Such high levels have raised questions about the smoking effects of real health risks to troop readiness and training costs.
Video Smoking in the United States military
Smoking in the US military from 1918 to 1975
With the entry of the United States into World War I in 1918, the use of cigarettes increased dramatically among US military personnel because they were targeted by tobacco companies touted as a way for soldiers to escape psychologically from their current state, improve the morale of the troops as a whole. Cigarettes become so integrated in life on the battlefield that these symbols of pleasure and comfort are also used as a form of currency. Although cigarettes had been considered a physical and moral danger by the early anti-tobacco movement around this time, in 1918, earlier anti-smoking and military organizations began to support efforts to distribute cigarettes to troops. The New York Times garnered support for this effort by stating that cigarettes "ease the inevitable suffering of war," and other popular periodic cigarettes described as "sole and last solace for the wounded." With the rise of World War II, tobacco companies continued to foster a wartime smoking culture by sending free cigarettes to troops and supporting the entry of cigarettes into the ranks of soldiers. Advertisements also encourage residents back home to support troops by sending cigarettes. In 1965, first during the US Army & Army Basic Training Course then in Pre-Airborne Infantry Training, when allowed to take a break from P.T., or during a long march, it's common for a Drill Sergeant to say "smoke them if you get them, do push-ups if you do not". Non-smoking soldiers will soon "burn" a cigarette from a friend & amp; they will also soon become smokers. Despite much evidence in the 1950s about the adverse health effects of smoking and tobacco use, the military continued to enter cigarettes in rations until 1975.
Maps Smoking in the United States military
Strive at the tobacco control initiative
With scientific data on smoking health risks and information on the effects of smoking on troop readiness, in 1975, the US Department of Defense stopped smoking in K-rations and rations. In 1978, the Department of Defense has implemented basic smoking regulations, including the establishment of smoking and non-smoking areas. In 1985, the Department of Defense conducted a study revealing that the smoking level of military personnel (47%) was significantly higher than the US civilian population (30%) and concluded that smoking had a negative effect on troop readiness. The report also cites estimated healthcare costs related to tobacco as high as $ 209.9 million, and recommends potential methods to curb smoking in the military, including removal of tobacco products from stores, raising tobacco prices to the civilian level, and implementing education programs to prevent smoking. In 1986, Directive Directive 1010.10 was issued by Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who announced, "an intense anti-smoking campaign... at all levels of all Services." It establishes policies on smoking and other health risk behaviors such as alcohol consumption. The policy prohibits the use of tobacco during basic training, increases the number of banned smoking places, and illicit healthcare providers from smoking on duty. The objective of this policy is to reduce all levels of tobacco use below civilian level, and to reduce the number of personnel and active duty rates from 52% to 25% in 1990. In 1992, the policy of DeCA Directive 40-13 prohibited commissioners and exchange from participating with promotions by tobacco manufacturers directed specifically at military personnel, and requiring commissioners to stock up on cigarettes in the back. In 1993, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) became the first smoke-free Navy ship. In 1994, the Department of Defense has implemented Directive 1010.15 that prohibits smoking in the workplace, defined outdoor smoking areas, and creates precursors of educational programs that seek to distribute information to new personnel about the health effects of smoking and encourage smokers to quit.. The Executive Order of 13508 in 1997 banned smoking in all government-owned, rented, or leased interior spaces, but the Department of Defense approved a three-year phase period for their facilities and finally implemented the ban on 7 December 2002. Despite this effort, in 1988, the smoking rate only decreased to 42% and far exceeded the civilian population level. And although the prevalence decreased to 29.9% from 1980 to 1998, it has increased since then and still seems to increase.
Tobacco_industry.27s_response "> Tobacco industry response
Recognizing military market opportunities around the world due to the young demographics of military personnel and smoking initiation associated with new recruits, the Tobacco Institute, which functions as a tobacco industry lobbying organization, and Philip Morris considers this new tobacco control initiative a threat. and devise strategies to avoid government policy. Another incentive for the tobacco industry to protect its military market is the recognized phenomenon that consumer product preferences developed during years of service in the military will then be translated into civilian market earnings as service members leave the military or retire. After the implementation of Directive 1010.10 in 1986, the Tobacco Institute and Philip Morris immediately began to seek tobacco-friendly politicians' support for the policy, arguing that the policy would negatively impact military recruitment, retention and morale. Furthermore, letters sent to Defense Secretary Weinberger from politicians call for rhetoric about "private rights" violations and "the right of individuals to smoke." Such political lobbying helps limit the implementation and further expansion of Directive 1010.10.
Although the Department of Defense had stopped the practice of smoke-free distribution during the war, the tobacco companies started a campaign during the Gulf War (1990-1991) to distribute free cigarettes to soldiers stationed in Saudi Arabia, but would eventually be rejected by the Department of Defense. Regardless, Philip Morris then started a sales campaign through direct mail, and extended promotions for deployed troops including shipping of branded goods such as playing cards and cozies cups. Surprisingly, the military actually helps tobacco companies in sending shipments to military stores in Saudi Arabia at government expense. Another controversy arose when it was discovered that RJ Reynolds had put their company name on the front and Camel's ads behind a magazine donated from Operation Desert News, a civil project to bring magazines to troops. Despite initial refusals by the Department of Defense because of advertising, constant pressure from RJ Reynolds and politicians allowed magazines to be shipped with advertising at government expense, violating military policies that prohibit the promotion of tobacco-branded promoters directed at military personnel. In addition, Philip Morris focused on promoting the Marlboro brand with the aim of encouraging the company's good intentions by starting a "Marlboro holiday sound card" program. Held on 10 military bases, they invited families of personnel deployed to record messages to chips inserted into a greeting card, and then allow the base to extend the recording of the message to the public. Despite violating the Department of Defense policy on tobacco-branded programs directed at military personnel, Philip Morris has received permission to implement programs from the Defense Logistics Agency, Moral headquarters, Welfare and Recreation from service, and bases commander. Furthermore, after troops withdrawn from the conflict in 1991, the tobacco companies sponsored the "Welcome Home" event to return troops that featured extensive brand promotion. Although the Department of Defense has enacted policies to reduce tobacco use among personnel, the successful efforts of tobacco companies and cultural factors of smoking in the military have resulted in a mixed message of promotion and reduction of tobacco for military personnel.
Smoking is currently in the US military
In 2005, the smoking level of military personnel was found to be 32.2%, compared with a civil level of 21%. Higher smoking rates indicate that certain aspects of the military may encourage smoking. These factors include peer influences, combat stress, boredom, and easy access to cheap tobacco products. Another factor that can lead to increased use of tobacco is its spread. One study found that among nonsmokers, smoking initiation was observed in 1.3% of personnel not mobilized while 2.3% was observed in personnel deployed. Among past smokers, the resumption of smoking occurred in 28.7% of non-deployed personnel and 39.4% of personnel deployed, while smoking increased by 44% among the former and 57% among the latter. US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan reported smoking twice as high as other Americans. Even after leaving the service, many veterans continue to smoke because the prevalence of smoking among veterans has been reported to be 27% during 2003 to 2007, and military smoking is strongly associated with increased cigarette consumption for life. Such a high level of smoking has caused a significant cost to the Department of Defense. The cost of smoking among beneficiaries of the US military health care system was estimated at more than $ 900 million per year in 1995, with $ 584 million in direct health care costs and $ 346 million in lost productivity among active duty personnel. Suicide, which accounts for 13% of deaths in the military, has also been linked to smoking, since the risk of suicide among military men is found to increase significantly with the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Smoking also affects training costs because smokers are more likely to quit during training, and are associated with $ 18 million per year in excessive training costs for the US Air Force, and over $ 130 million per year for all service branches.
Note that rates on smoking and suicide and loss of energy during training may represent more than symptomatic relation rather than causative ones. Many discharges during basic training outcomes of a series of minor offenses, administratively punished as opposed to military tribunals, are seen as an indicator that trainees can not or will not adapt to military life, rather than single incidents or serious violations of regulations. With smoking now banned in basic training, smoking cigarettes, and perhaps even caught in cigarette ownership, is an obviously risky offense for non-smoker smokers. Regarding suicide, figures showing increased smoking levels and smoking returns among those deployed indicate that smoking can be a reaction and an indicator or increase in stress, and a person potentially suicidal will obviously be under a more typical stress level, smoking that increased can be an indicator of excessive stress and not the cause of increased risk of suicide. Also, higher rates of smoking among those who were discharged during the training may also be indicative of individuals whose training is more than usual under stress, and these people are likely to experience more difficulty completing the training successfully than the unusual (compared to his/her friends) is emphasized by it.
In 2008 illegal smoking and improper chemical storage caused great damage to USS George Washington (CVN-73).
The Department of Defense hopes to reduce tobacco use rates by up to 12% by the end of 2010. To achieve their goals, Pentagon health experts have begun to urge Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ban tobacco use by troops and end sales on military properties. The Navy imposed a smoking ban on submarines by the end of 2010 - highlighting one of the last gaps in the indoor smoking ban imposed in 1994.
See also
- US. government and quit smoking
- Smoking and Health: Advisory Committee Reports for United States General Surgeon
- Sandblast operation
References
External links
- Defense News Articles.gov: Reports Offensive Timeline for Tobacco Free Military. WASHINGTON, July 10, 2009.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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