ALCOAST 340/19 - NOV 2019 2019 GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE OUT

R 040928 NOV 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06200//
ALCOAST 340/19
COMDTNOTE 6200
SUBJ:  2019 GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE OUT
A. Coast Guard Health Promotion Manual, COMDTINST M6200.1 (series)
1. On 21 November, the American Cancer Society will celebrate the 44th Great American
Smoke Out, which encourages smokers to make a plan to quit smoking. We have a lot to
celebrate this year, with the lowest prevalence of cigarette smokers recorded since
monitoring began in 1965.
2. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco is the
leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Nearly
16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking. Despite the overwhelming
evidence of the harmful effects of tobacco, nearly 40 million US adults still smoke cigarettes.
But, smokers can and do quit smoking: former smokers now outnumber current smokers. Among
current U.S. adult smokers, nearly two out of three want to quit smoking, and approximately
half made a quit attempt in the preceding year. Getting effective help through counseling and
use of medications can increase the chances of quitting by as much as threefold.
3. Some people are under the misconception that vaping or the use of e-cigarettes is a safe
alternative to cigarettes. This is not necessarily true. Vaping has its own complications and
further research is being done to determine the long-term effects. As if 22 October 2019, the
CDC has over 1604 reported cases of lung injuries associated with vaping. Nearly two thirds of
these patients are between 18-34 years old.
4. Nicotine is especially dangerous to adolescents causing lasting cognitive and behavioral
impairments, such as harm to areas of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and
impulse control. Nicotine is also harmful to fetuses. For example, the
risk of sudden infant death syndrome is increased among infants whose mothers are smokers.
5. I encourage all current nicotine product users (that includes e-cigarettes and smokeless
tobacco) to strongly consider giving up this injurious 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://www.ycq2.org/ for 24/7 online quit tobacco live chat, and other resources.
    c. Go to: https://tricare.mil/HealthWellness/Tobacco/ to review TRICARE Services to include
nicotine replacement treatment.
    d. Go to "Tips From Former Smokers": https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/index.html
for testimonials on the dangers of smoking and additional resources.
    e. Take advantage of the many tobacco cessation resource on the COMDT (CG-1111) site at:
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/worklife/Health-Promotion-Resources/Tobacco-Cessation-Program/.
6. 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 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 a healthier life for you and those around you.
7. 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.
8. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.