R 271738Z OCT 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 612/10
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MR//
SUBJ/GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT ANTI-TOBACCO CAMPAIGN//
POC/BETTY MAFFEI/NF-04/UNIT:MRS/-/TEL:703-784-3810//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SINCE 1977, THE THIRD THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT.  ON THIS DAY EVERY YEAR, SMOKERS ACROSS AMERICA TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND TRY TO DO WHAT FEELS IMPOSSIBLE - GIVE UP CIGARETTES FOR ONE DAY.  THE IDEA IS THAT MANY WILL QUIT SMOKING FOR GOOD.  THE INTENT OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF THE USE OF TOBACCO, IN ALL ITS FORMS, AND TO COMMUNICATE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS TO FACLITATE TOBACCO CESSATION AND AVOIDANCE.
2.  THE 2008 DOD SURVEY OF HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL INDICATES THE MARINES HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF TOBACCO USE AMONG ALL THE ARMED SERVICES.  THE PREVALANCE OF CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG MARINES IS 37.4 PERCENT AND USE OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO IS 21.5 PERCENT.  THESE STATISTICS INDICATE THAT THERE REMAINS A GREAT NEED FOR THE CONTINUED EDUCATION OF TOBACCO AVOIDANCE AND CESSATION PROGRAMS IN THE MARINE CORPS.
3.  TOBACCO USE IS THE SINGLE MOST PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF DISEASE, DISABILITY, AND DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES.  OVER 440,000 PEOPLE DIE PREMATURELY EVERY YEAR FROM TOBACCO USE OR EXPOSURE TO SECOND HAND SMOKE.  ANOTHER 8.6 MILLION HAVE A SERIOUS ILLNESS CAUSED BY SMOKING.  ACCORDING TO THE DOD ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO USE ADVISORY COUNCIL, TOBACCO USE IN THE MARINE CORPS COST DOD AN ESTIMATED 51 MILLION IN DIRECT MEDICAL EXPENSES AND 8.1 MILLION IN LOST PRODUCTIVITY AND ABSENTEEISM IN FY 2008.
4.  ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS CONTAIN NICOTINE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE.  THERE ARE OVER 4,000 CHEMICALS IN TOBACCO SMOKE OF WHICH MORE THAN 50 ARE KNOWN CARCINOGENS.  USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IS LINKED TO VARIOUS CANCERS THROUGHOUT THE BODY INCLUDING THROAT, LARYNX, LUNG, STOMACH, PANCREAS, AND UTERINE CANCERS IN ADDITION TO A HOST OF PREVENTABLE CHRONIC DISEASES.  TOBACCO USE ALSO IMPAIRS WOUND HEALING, INCREASES THE RISK OF INFECTION, INCREASES SCARRING AND IMPAIRS NIGHT VISION.
5.  WHEN USERS OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS TRY TO QUIT, THE ABSENCE OF NICOTINE LEADS TO PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WITHDRAWAL.  THESE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS MUST BE DEALT WITH IF THEY ARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
6.  THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO QUIT USING TOBACCO:  COLD TURKEY (ABRUPT ABSTAINMENT), NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, ORAL MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LICENSED MEDICAL PROVIDERS OR HYPNOSIS.  ALL PHYSICAL METHODS OF QUITTING TOBACCO PRODUCTS SHOULD BE COMBINED WITH CONSULTATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM YOUR LOCAL MTF AND/OR SEMPER FIT HEALTH PROMOTION OFFICE, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROVEN BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM.  WHATEVER METHOD OR METHODS ARE USED, THE FIRST STEP IS THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO QUIT.  THE MARINE CORPS EXCHANGE OFFERS OVER THE COUNTER SMOKING CESSATION PRODUCTS FOR SALE AT MCX COST,  AS PART OF THE "OUR COST IS YOUR COST" VALUE PROGRAM.
7.  THE NAVY AND SEMPER FIT HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS WILL BE SPONSORING THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT ON THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2010.  CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SEMPER FIT OFFICE OR MTF FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS ON LOCAL ACTIVITIES.  IN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT, MARINE CORPS EXCHANGES (MCX) WILL BE OFFERING A PROMOTIONAL COUPON VIA EMAIL AND THROUGH LOCAL SEMPER FIT OFFICES.
8.  MARINE CORPS COMMUNITIES SHOULD INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TOBACCO USAGE ON BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND COMMAND READINESS, AND UTILIZE EVENTS/ARTICLES TO EMPHASIZE CAPABILITIES THAT ASSIST MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ACHIEVING TOBACCO FREE LIFESTYLES.
9.  ENHANCING OUR READINESS FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY REQUIRES THAT ALL MARINES, MALE AND FEMALE, FROM OUR YOUNGEST PRIVATE TO OUR SENIOR COMMANDERS, BE PROACTIVE IN ENHANCING HEALTH LIFESTYLES AND REDUCING HEALTH DETRACTORS FOR A FIT AND READY FORCE.
10.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY NF-6 (SES) T. R. LARSEN, DIRECTOR, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION.//