ALCOAST 319/17 - OCT 2017 2017 GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE OUT

united states coast guard

R 231103 OCT 17
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06200//
ALCOAST 319/17
COMDTNOTE 6200
SUBJ:  2017 GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE OUT
A. COAST GUARD HEALTH PROMOTION MANUAL, COMDTINST M6200.1 (SERIES)
1. This year the Great American Smoke Out will take place on 16 November.
The purpose of the event is to designate a day to encourage users of
tobacco and nicotine products to refrain from use for one day with the
potential of quitting for a lifetime.
2. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco
is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, with
more than 480,000 deaths each year. Despite the overwhelming evidence of
the harmful effects of tobacco, 15 percent of Americans still continue
to use tobacco.
3. The good news is that within hours of quitting tobacco the body will
begin to heal itself. After just one year of quitting, the risk for
heart attack drops sharply. Within five years, cancers of the mouth,
throat, esophagus and bladder drop by half. After 10 years, the risk of
lung cancer drops by half as well.
4. I encourage all current nicotine product users (that includes
e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco) to strongly consider giving up this
destructive habit, and suggest using the following support options to
successfully quit:
   A. Contact your primary care manager for information on tobacco
cessation resources, including possible medications to assist with this
process.
   B. Go to https://tricare.mil/ucanquit2 for additional information and
resources such as counseling and effective cessation strategies.
   C. Take advantage of CG SUPRT tobacco cessation program. Call toll
free 1-855-CG-SUPRT (1-855-247-8778), or go to WWW.CGSUPRT.COM, click on
the red “MY CG SUPRT SITE”, then type tobacco in the search box for
information on tobacco cessation programs.
5. Breaking tobacco and nicotine addiction is not easy, but anyone who
has witnessed the slow, painful death of a person suffering from a
tobacco related illness such as lung cancer or mouth cancer knows that
it is worth quitting. I applaud those who make this attempt and urge
commands to support these efforts. Your success will be rewarded by
achieving a longer, healthier life for you and those around you.
6. For questions concerning Coast Guard tobacco policies, refer to
ref (A) or contact Mr. Tim Merrell, Health Promotion Program Manager
at (202) 475-5146 or timothy.m.merrell@uscg.mil.
7. RADM Erica G. Schwartz, Director Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends.
8. Internet release authorized.