Marine Corps Base Hawaii -- Marines, sailors and civilians were encouraged to spit out tobacco — and keep it out — during the Great American Spit Out at Anderson Hall Dining Facility, Feb. 21.
The Great American Spit Out encourages people to stop using smokeless tobacco for one day. Neil Morgan, director of the Health Promotion office, set up a display at Anderson Hall to provide service members with information and resources about quitting smokeless tobacco.
“Nicotine is very addictive and to quit is a very big lifestyle change,” Morgan said. “They say it takes an average of five to seven attempts at quitting before one successfully becomes tobacco free. All programs which encourage quitting tobacco and promoting healthier lifestyles are worthy programs.”
The event is part of the Department of Defense’s “Quit Tobacco — Make Everyone Proud” campaign, developed in 2007. A study conducted by the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in 2007 showed that service members were twice as likely to use smokeless tobacco as civilians, and at the time, the number was increasing.
But a 2009 study by the Oregon Research Institute showed that actively encouraging people to quit through the use of various resources can be effective. Studying more than 700 patients from military dental clinics, the institute found people who were given tools for a smokeless tobacco cessation program were more likely to quit than those who merely received a recommendation. The patients who were more successful in quitting were those who received a manual, video guide and phone calls with counselors.
But the Great American Spit Out is not the only time to quit. Regular tobacco cessation classes are held on base every Tuesday in four-week sessions. The free classes are open to service members, retirees, dependents and DoD civilians. Though DoD civilians do not have the authorization to receive medication, they can still attend the class for the information.
Cpl. Albert Padro, an airframes mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, attended a tobacco cessation class, Feb. 19.
The native of Monroe, N.Y., has smoked since 2005, and dipped tobacco since 2008. This will be the fifth time Padro has tried to quit. Reflecting on previous attempts, he said he wasn’t truly ready until now. Among other health reasons, Padro wants to quit smoking and “dipping,” as his tobacco use is negatively affecting his running performance. Originally, he attempted to quit smoking by using smokeless tobacco.
Though Padro’s personal attempt was not influenced by what he heard, it has been said in various articles that smokeless tobacco is mistakenly perceived as a lesser of two evils.
“(Smokeless tobacco companies) say it’s an alternative to smoking — implying that it’s safe — even by naming it ‘smokeless’ implies safety,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
According to Elbert D. Glover and Penny N. Glover, authors of “The Smokeless Tobacco Problem: Risk Groups in North America,” adolescents especially perceive smokeless tobacco as safe.
“Articles discussing tobacco harm reduction in general — and the potential role of smokeless tobacco as a reduced risk alternative to cigarette smoking in particular — continue to be published in scientific and public health journals, newspapers, magazines, Internet websites, and public interest group reports,” said then-chief executive officer Vincent A. Gierer, Jr., of smokeless tobacco company UST, Inc., in 2005.
However, the National Cancer Institute also lists multiple health risks of smokeless tobacco products, including oral cancer, receding gums that can result in cavities, ulcers and hypertension.
“I started smoking again, so I just formed another habit,” Padro said.
Padro said his addiction to smokeless tobacco is less about the nicotine and more about “oral fixation,” or needing something to chew on. He attempted to quell his addiction with sunflower seeds, but was again unsuccessful, as the salty seeds dried out his mouth. This time, after attending the tobacco cessation class, Padro plans to use an anti-smoking prescription drug, though he is still trying to find a solution to his dipping. He also plans to designate a day to quit on his own terms.
“I’ve had enough of it and I just want to kick the habit,” Padro said.
For more information about attending a tobacco cessation class, call 254-7636. For more information about tobacco cessation, visit the campaign’s website at http://www.ucanquit2.org.