Tobacco Use in the Army: Illuminating Patterns, Practices, and Options for Treatment

ABSTRACT Tobacco use by soldiers has been prevalent throughout the 20th century. Tobacco has been seen as a "right." ' Additionally, tobacco was viewed as a boost to a soldier's morale and to provide comfort, while reducing stress in austere conditions. Today, tobacco is known to increase healthcare costs, adversely affect readiness, ^ and impact the mili-tary members ' physical performance. ^ The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe patterns, practices, and expe-riences of active duty Army soldiers who use tobacco, have quit using tobacco, and have relapsed after a period of tobacco abstinence. Five themes were uncovered; 1.) Experiences associated with use of tobacco, 2.) Tobacco use in the Army, 3.) Experiences of starting and restarting tobacco, 4.) Balancing health risks with tobacco use, and 5.) Tobacco use regula-tions and policies. Findings are consistent with the conclusion that the Army culture supports soldiers ' tobacco use. Tobacco use by the general population in the United States has steadily declined;' ' yet, tobacco use in the military has not declined and may even be increasing in some specific age groups. In a literature review of military tobacco use, Nelson and Pederson ^ summarized the prevalence of tobacco use in recruits and members; they also reported on recent studies that docu-ment nonusers of tobacco who become users after accession