ALCOAST 369/18 - OCT 2018 2018 GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE OUT

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 10/25/2018 01:18 PM EDT

united states coast guard

R 251313 OCT 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06200//
ALCOAST 369/18
COMDTNOTE 6200
SUBJ: 2018 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 15 November.
The purpose of this event is to designate a day to encourage users of tobacco
to refrain from use for one day with the potential of quitting for a lifetime.
2. Nearly 38 million Americans smoke cigarettes, and smoking remains the single
largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. Smoking causes
more than 480,000 deaths every year and more than 16 million Americans live with
a smoking-related disease.
3. Based on the 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey, approximately 9% of Coast
Guard active duty members “were current cigarette or smokeless tobacco users.”
4. Quitting smoking improves health immediately. Stopping smoking is hard, but
you can increase your chances of success with help. Getting help through
counseling and medications doubles or even triples your chances of quitting
successfully. Quitting smoking is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best
chance of quitting and remaining smoke-free, you need to know what you are up
against, what your options are, and where to go for help.
    a. Medical - Contact your primary care provider for information on tobacco
cessation resources, including possible medications to assist with this process.
    b. UCanQuit2 - Go to https://tricare.mil/ucanquit2 for additional information
and resources such as counseling and effective tobacco cessation strategies.
    c. CG SUPRT - Take advantage of the CG SUPRT tobacco cessation program. Call
toll free 1-855-CG-SUPRT (1-855-247-8778), or go to www.cgsuprt.com.
5. Additional resources include:
    a. The American Cancer Society -
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html.
    b. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention -
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm?s_cid=osh-stu-home-nav-002.
6. POC: 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 is authorized.