DoD helps extinguish smoking habit
Story by Lance Cpl. Laura A. Mapes, Desert Warrior Staff
In March, the Department of Defense launched a campaign geared toward extinguishing smoking and tobacco use for the more than 30 percent of active duty troops who use tobacco.
Although this is a significant decrease since the 1980s, the numbers are still too high, according to a 2005 survey from the DoD.
Each year, the Marine Corps spends $99 million to make up for illness and loss of productivity attributed to smoking.
“When a smoker takes a five minute break every hour, that is 45 minutes per day without productivity,” said Tara Hawkins, Semper Fit personal trainer. “This also puts a lot of stress on the nonsmoker.”
For those who wish to quit the habit or get information about quitting the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society’s visiting nurse, Paula Snook, offers smoking cessation classes in building 645, room 107, the second Tuesday of every month.
“Other bases around the Marine Corps have programs run through (Marine Corps Community Services), but I started doing this many years ago to help the branch medical clinic,” said Snook. “I know what it is like to be a user, and I take that experience into my classes.”
After quitting smoking, the negative effects of smoking can begin to decrease almost immediately.
According to a study by the American Lung Association, a smoker’s heart rate drops 20 minutes after quitting, carbon-monoxide levels in the blood return to normal after 12 hours, and the sense of smell and taste are regained after only two days without a cigarette.
“I took the class on (Oct. 7), I quit on the 8th and by the 10th, I had no desire to smoke,” said Sgt. Sean Sweeney, a station inspection technician and a smoker for 20 years. “I could finally smell and taste how bad it was.”
There are long-term positive effects as well. One year after quitting, the added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s and five years after quitting, the stroke risk would be equal to that of a nonsmoker.
“After a 34-year love affair with cigarettes, quitting is the best decision I ever made,” said Snook. “I give users the tools and knowledge to quit, but they have to have the desire and drive.”
She also offers one-on-one counseling for Marines who are unable to attend the class, but would like help quitting.
After attending the one-day tobacco cessation class, graduates take their certificates of completion to BMC pharmacy, where they can receive medication such as nicotine patches and gum and tablets like bupropion and varenicline.
For more information about smoking cessation classes on station, or one-on-one counseling, call 928-269-2373. The next class is slated for Tuesday due to the holiday on Nov. 11.
Smokers can also find support through Web sites and hot lines, such as www.ucanquit2.org, smokefree.org, www-nehc.med.navy.mil, www.triwest.com/beneficiary and 1-800-QUIT-NOW.