Air Force Tobacco Policy Continues Trend

Over time military tobacco policies have been strengthened to cut the high rates of tobacco use among military service members, improve their health, and boost readiness. Success means uprooting a longstanding tobacco-tolerant culture.

Strong policies have supplied clear guidance and background about the negative impact of tobacco use and how it can best be approached with prevention and treatment. Other policy steps have backed statements with manpower, spoken to both military and civilian use of tobacco, and taken strong stands against smokeless tobacco use. Weak policies have limited treatment, stretched to limit the impact on smokers, or given mixed messages.¹

Extending the trend toward stronger policies, the Air Force issued new rules about tobacco use on its installations. Military treatment facilities (MTFs) were given 18 months to become completely tobacco-free with Designated Tobacco Areas (DTAs) outside campus boundaries. On all Air Force installations, DTA rules were updated with minimum distances from building entrances, walkways, parking lots, and playgrounds. Tobacco use is banned in all Air Force workplaces, indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, and lodging. It also is barred at all times during basic training and during school duty hours in other education and training programs.²

Besides controls, the new Air Force policy includes revised actions to prevent and reduce tobacco use. These include community, cessation support, and clinical encounter activities. Cessation support spans a wide range—group and Web-based programs, tobacco quit lines, and support groups. Unit-level activities are urged since peer-led programs are often well-received. To make sure that all required action is taken, the Air Force has outlined a long list of responsibilities to promote a tobacco-free Air Force.³

The Air Force’s latest tobacco policy follows a sweeping move by the Secretary of the Navy to raise tobacco prices, increase cessation services, and boost tobacco education in the Navy and the Marine Corps.

These policy changes mark a sharper focus on tobacco use and its harmful effects. As high-level commitments, the new tobacco policies signal a culture shift. As broad approaches to curbing tobacco sales along with preventing use and treating dependence, they reflect the deep roots and complex nature of tobacco use.

Quit Tobacco—Make Everyone Proud salutes the growing trend toward strong service-level tobacco policies. We support these steps with tools to help military health promotion personnel get the word out and to help service members move ahead to a tobacco-free future.

References

¹ Jahnke, S.A., Hoffman, K.M, Haddock, C.K., Long, M.A.D., Williams, L.N., Lando, H.A., and Poston, W.S.C. (2011).Military tobacco policies: The good, the bad, and the ugly.Military Medicine, 176(12): 1382–1387.

^2,3 Air Force Medical Command. (March 26, 2012). Tobacco Use in the Air Force. Air Force Instruction 40-102.