USS Barry Promotes Tobacco Cessation during Great Barry Smokeout

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4 Public Affairs

USS BARRY, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Barry (DDG 52) made an attempt to give up the use of tobacco products during the Great Barry Smokeout (GBSO) March 17.

GBSO is a spin off of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout (GASO), which is held across America, and designed to encourage tobacco users to kick the habit.

According to a 2008 Department of Defense survey of health related behaviors, nearly 31 percent of Sailors smoke cigarettes.

Chief Hospital Corpsman Michael Young said the term "smokeout" seems to confuse some people.

"It's a catchy title, but it's a little misleading,"

said Young. "I just want to make sure that people know that this initiative, whether on Barry or elsewhere, focuses on all tobacco products not just smoking. When you hear the Great American Smoke-out you automatically think about people just quitting smoking."

Yeoman Seaman Michael Rawles said GBSO is a good way to motivate Sailors and give them the extra push they need to quit.

"I figured if I quit for one day, then why not two, three, four and so on," said Rawles. "In my experience, people do things better when they have a challenge."

Fifty-five percent of Barry's tobacco users participated in the GBSO, and nearly half of the participants enrolled into a tobacco cessation program and decided to quit permanently.

"When I was working out the other day I just didn't feel very good," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Damian Landreth. "I decided it's time to make self improvements, and quitting smoking is my first step in the process."

There are many resources available to tobacco users interested in quitting, including military treatment facilities and clinics that offer tobacco cessation programs and support groups.

Barry is on a routine deployment conducting maritime security operations in U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

Navy Exposes Chewing Tobacco Dangers

By Douglas H. Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The tobacco cessation facilitator, dental services and health promotion personnel from Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB), Wash., teamed up to actively promote the Great American Spit Out (GASPO) Feb. 24.

The event was part of "Quit Tobacco — Make Everyone Proud," an ongoing DoD educational campaign tailored specifically for U.S. military members to give up tobacco products.

"Chewing tobacco is a dangerous concept with definite health risks," said Patrick W. Graves, NHB's tobacco cessation facilitator. "When a person puts chewing tobacco into their mouth, they are instantly exposed to significant dangers such as oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophagus cancer, stomach cancer and colon cancer. A dip of chew has 28 cancer-causing carcinogens."

According to Graves, chewing tobacco is a super concentrated form of nicotine, equal to three and a half packs of cigarettes.

"That makes it all the more addictive," said Graves.

Data compiled by the DoD states that chewing tobacco is used by 19 percent of 18 to 24-year-old military males, approximately twice the national average. Chewing tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking because the body absorbs three to four times more nicotine, making it potentially more addictive than cigarettes.

"We have half a dozen staff members here at NHB who are in the process of quitting, and we're doing all we can to help them out," said Graves. "If you are a person with cardiac risk factors and have symptoms like recurrent chest pains, high blood pressure, recurring cough or shortness of breath, you might want to ask yourself that if you're holding out for the worst-case scenario, it's already happened. Chewing tobacco is subtle and slow."

Graves attests that getting the information out is only half the struggle because it's really up to each individual to control their actions.

"We might know more but due to our demographics, but we also tend to smoke and dip 35 to 50 percent more than our civilian counterparts," said Graves. "It's always been a cultural thing in the service, but that notion is gradually changing. The ironic thing about using chewing tobacco is that it's such a contradictory habit to a person putting in the effort to maintain their readiness, training, physical fitness and be on the top of their game. Dipping and chewing negates that and takes away from all the gains."

"Our partners in the dental community tend to see the impact of what chewing tobacco can do a lot earlier that I do," said Graves. "The hallmark is a pre-cancerous lesion, and our dentists and dental technicians are really good at recognizing any early warning signs."

"The big thing we stress is the bone loss that occurs by the front teeth and the gum disease and the cancers that chewing causes. The gums can't handle the irritation from the tobacco. Another thing we look for is cancer of the tongue caused from the carcinogen juices of the chewing tobacco," said Lt. Melanie Perry, a dentist assigned to Dental Health Clinic Bangor, Wash.

Using smokeless tobacco breaks down gum lines, stains teeth and is a prime source of halitosis, or bad breath, said Perry.

Active duty personnel get a dental exam at least once a year, which gives dentists the opportunity to track any potential wear and tear with a patient.

"A lot of times if we can show a patient the changes that chewing tobacco has caused it will help them quit. We can show a person if they might have cancer of the mouth or get a pre-cancerous lesion, such as leukoplakia, which is white patches that can turn into cancer. There's also gum disease that is caused when the gum is pulled away from the teeth where the tobacco has been held and won't grow back," said Perry.

"If the measuring stick for a person is that they will quit is if they get a pre-cancerous lesion, they might have already lost the battle," added Graves. "If anyone who chews begins to notice that they have a white patch in their mouth or receding gum lines, they need to contact their dentist immediately."

Health promotion staff also provided herbal-based and non-nicotine based chew as an alternative to chewing tobacco.

"We're actually going to order a supply of the herbal-based chew to have on hand at all times at our Bangor Dental Clinic," said Perry.

"We've also been hanging up posters and putting up flyers on why to quit to hopefully get those who use to at least think about not chewing," said Perry. "Everyone knows it's not good. Some people tend to think that if anything bad happens it will always happen to the other guy and not them and when dealing with a product that causes serious dental disease and cancer, that's really not the case."

Graves encourages anyone who is thinking of quitting cigarettes or chewing/smokeless tobacco to contact their primary care doctor or independent duty corpsman.

Troops Urged to Quit Smokeless Tobacco

From a Tricare News Release

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Feb. 10, 2011 – When the Defense Department weighs in on kissing and spitting, it’s with good reason -- two good reasons, in fact: love and health.

Using smokeless tobacco can pose a stinky, unsavory obstacle to sharing a kiss with a loved one, parent, child or sweetheart. It also may cause a slew of serious health problems. That’s why TRICARE wants military personnel to participate in the Great American Spit Out on Feb. 24, and kiss the spit goodbye for a day.

About 19 percent of 18- to 24-year-old men in the armed forces use smokeless tobacco -- that’s more than double the national rate. The DOD Quit Tobacco -- Make Everyone Proud campaign at www.ucanquit2.org is focusing on helping those who spit and chew tobacco to develop a personalized cessation plan.

“Many of our servicemen started using smokeless tobacco at a young age due to peer pressure and became addicted before realizing the negative effects it could have on their personal relationships and health,” said Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Aileen Buckler, a U.S. Public Health Service officer and chairman of the DOD Alcohol and Tobacco Advisory Committee.

Throughout the month of February the DOD website will host a special Great American Spit Out page, www.ucanquit2.org/facts/gaspo/, where service members can publicly post their pledge to quit.

Also on the website, Navy Capt. (Dr.) Larry Williams, public health emergency officer, will answer questions about smokeless tobacco. Installations planning cessation events will find ideas, an event registration page, pledge cards, and downloadable promotional materials.

Service members and their friends, families and other supporters are invited to join the event on Facebook at www.facebook/ucanquit2.org. Those planning to quit can get a “Kiss me, I’m Tobacco Free” badge to post on their Facebook page.

The website will showcase graphic photos of the devastating effects of surgery for oral cancer, which has been linked to smokeless tobacco use. Those who use smokeless tobacco are marked by bulging cheeks, gunk stuck in teeth, permanently discolored teeth, and spitting cups -- all universally unappealing. Visitors will also find hard-hitting facts that dispel the myth that smokeless tobacco is a safe alternative to smoking. For example, almost half of those who contract oral cancer die within five years, and one American dies from oral cancer every hour.

“Don’t let spitting and chewing get in the way of your personal relationships,” Buckler urged. “Take this opportunity to do something for yourself and those you love. Kiss smokeless tobacco goodbye and experience the benefits to your social life and health.”

Enrolling in the website’s comprehensive support system, Train2Quit, can be the first step in the journey to saying goodbye to smokeless tobacco. The system features interactive components such as quit tools, self-assessment questionnaires, and quizzes.

Service members can create a customized quit plan with a calendar to track progress and learn how to beat cravings, overcome weight gain and cope with nicotine withdrawal. The site also has personal quit coaches, available 24/7, to get answers to questions about becoming tobacco free.