Obama, Pentagon Consider Banning Tobacco in US Military

[Pidesco]

Unless, of course we already don't smoke to begin with.

[Kelverin]

I'm betting a sudden hacking cough while trying to dodge bullets has a definite effect on a soldier's chance of dying.

 

Edit: not to mention the general effect of reduced stamina

:yawn:

[Gfted1]

This thread just reminded me that last Friday was my three month anniversary on quitting smoking. Carry on.

[Kelverin]

This thread just reminded me that last Friday was my three month anniversary on quitting smoking. Carry on.

Congratulations. I wish I could want to want to stop, but damn I love to smoke!

[taks]

A smoke-free society enforced by law wouldn't work, as we learned with prohibition and alcohol. I'm talking about changing the culture of the US to a point where it isn't "cool" to smoke.

ah, ok.

 

personally, the "best," and likely only truly effective remedy, is to a) make insurance truly competitive which leads to b) insurance companies make it too expensive for people to justify smoking as a personal choice.

 

taks

[taks]

but damn I love to smoke!

only when i'm drinking is this true for me. i hate(d) it every other time. in fact, i was just at my buddy's house and his wife offered me a smoke... turned it down. i'm finally going to stop cheating while drinking, too!

 

taks

[Oner]

Passive smoking is the way to go! (literally, if you want)

 

Or not.

[213374U]

insurance companies make it too expensive for people to justify smoking as a personal choice.

Haha, that would actually have the effect of making tobacco a niche product and a symbol of status. Not exactly what you'd be aiming for...

[kirottu]

This thread just reminded me that last Friday was my three month anniversary on quitting smoking. Carry on.

 

Quitter!

[Humodour]

Excerpt:

 

U.S. soldiers are trained to handle deadly weapons and smoke out enemies but they may soon find that they aren't allowed to handle cigarettes and light up a smoke.

 

Pentagon health experts are pressing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ban the use of tobacco by troops and ends its sale on military property, according to USA Today.

 

Jack Smith, head of the Pentagon's office of clinical and program policy, told the newspaper that he will advise Gates to adopt proposals by a federal study that cites rising tobacco use and higher costs for the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs as reasons for the ban.

 

The study by the Institute of Medicine calls for a phased-in ban over a period of perhaps up to 20 years.

 

"We'll certainly be taking that recommendation forward," Smith told the newspaper.

 

The VA and the Pentagon requested the study, which found that troops worn out by repeated deployments often rely on cigarettes as a "stress reliever." The study also found that tobacco use in the military rose after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.

 

Tobacco use costs the Pentagon $846 million a year in medical care and lost productivity, according to the study, which was released last month and used older data. The Department of Veterans Affairs spends up to $6 billion in treatments for tobacco-related illnesses, the study found.

 

The study recommends requiring new officers and enlisted personnel to be tobacco-free, eliminating tobacco use on military installations, ships and aircraft, expanding treatment programs and eliminating the sale of tobacco on military property.

 

"Any tobacco use while in uniform should be prohibited," the study said.

 

Link:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/11...trike-military/

 

I'm curious what everyone thinks here. I have my own opinion on this of course but before I elaborate I'd like to hear from you guys first. I think this story is very telling about more than just banning smoking in the military.

 

What's the problem? Stringent health requirements are required to enter the military. It's well known cigarettes destroy your health in like 10 different ways (cancer, emphysema, bone degredation, cardiovascular weakening, gum disease, etc). It should be obvious why the military would ban its consumption by soldiers.

 

I do find it a little ironic that Obama wants to take tobacco away from other people but has no inclination of giving it up himself.

 

Like to make up claims much? Obama's been struggling with giving it up for a while. His wife and daughters hate it.

 

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/20...bacco-bill.html

 

Please, please don't try and assert that he's lying and is just saying all that because he likes to "expand the role of government and keep the little guy down" or some rubbish.

[Meshugger]

Excerpt:

 

U.S. soldiers are trained to handle deadly weapons and smoke out enemies but they may soon find that they aren't allowed to handle cigarettes and light up a smoke.

 

Pentagon health experts are pressing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ban the use of tobacco by troops and ends its sale on military property, according to USA Today.

 

Jack Smith, head of the Pentagon's office of clinical and program policy, told the newspaper that he will advise Gates to adopt proposals by a federal study that cites rising tobacco use and higher costs for the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs as reasons for the ban.

 

The study by the Institute of Medicine calls for a phased-in ban over a period of perhaps up to 20 years.

 

"We'll certainly be taking that recommendation forward," Smith told the newspaper.

 

The VA and the Pentagon requested the study, which found that troops worn out by repeated deployments often rely on cigarettes as a "stress reliever." The study also found that tobacco use in the military rose after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.

 

Tobacco use costs the Pentagon $846 million a year in medical care and lost productivity, according to the study, which was released last month and used older data. The Department of Veterans Affairs spends up to $6 billion in treatments for tobacco-related illnesses, the study found.

 

The study recommends requiring new officers and enlisted personnel to be tobacco-free, eliminating tobacco use on military installations, ships and aircraft, expanding treatment programs and eliminating the sale of tobacco on military property.

 

"Any tobacco use while in uniform should be prohibited," the study said.

 

Link:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/11...trike-military/

 

I'm curious what everyone thinks here. I have my own opinion on this of course but before I elaborate I'd like to hear from you guys first. I think this story is very telling about more than just banning smoking in the military.

 

What's the problem? Stringent health requirements are required to enter the military. It's well known cigarettes destroy your health in like 10 different ways (cancer, emphysema, bone degredation, cardiovascular weakening, gum disease, etc). It should be obvious why the military would ban its consumption by soldiers.

 

I do find it a little ironic that Obama wants to take tobacco away from other people but has no inclination of giving it up himself.

 

Like to make up claims much? Obama's been struggling with giving it up for a while. His wife and daughters hate it.

 

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/20...bacco-bill.html

 

Please, please don't try and assert that he's lying and is just saying all that because he likes to "expand the role of government and keep the little guy down" or some rubbish.

 

No one is disputing the health risks with smoking. Look, I have served in the military and let me tell you one thing: No superior officer is going to run around at the brigade checking for whether a soldier smokes or not. They got better things to do, and most importantly, unnecessary force of disciple is a disaster for group morale.

 

I am not talking about smoking during military practices where you're using live ammunition or at times of war; of course smoking is prohibited then since it gives away your location to the enemy the second you light up. No, I am talking about what most soldiers do while serving the military: Waiting. Waiting while standing guard in the middle of somewhere, waiting for the new orders at the brigade, waiting for food, waiting for your time to sleep. That's when most soldiers take the time to relax with a smoke.

[213374U]

Smoking does not decrease a soldier's ability to do his job for the most part. And in those cases in which it may, folks compensate by being in better shape than they'd need to be if they didn't smoke.

 

Next stop: Global Warming!

[GreasyDogMeat]

Oh brother. North Korea, Iran, an economy in shambles and he wants to ban tobacco in the Military. Priorities... priorities.

[taks]

quote]Haha, that would actually have the effect of making tobacco a niche product and a symbol of status. Not exactly what you'd be aiming for...

nothing wrong with that at all.

 

taks

[Gorth]

Hey, I thought it was a priority to keep the troops as safe as possible? What's next, forcing soldiers to wear a helmet is infringing on their personal freedom?

 

Seriously, it is a business like any other. If the employer changes the terms, people can look for other jobs. I mean, it's not like people are forced at gunpoint to join the military (well, not anymore at least)? Or is the problem that Obamas administration is the one that decided to enforce a policy?

 

I for one enjoy a smoke free environment

[~Di]

Do we really want our soldiers going through nicotine withdrawal in the middle of a war? Come on. Anyone who has ever kicked an addiction knows that it is physically exhausting and causes severe depression, anxiety, moodiness and even rage. Combined with someone who carries weapons to stay alive, a dangerous combination.

 

I don't smoke anymore, haven't for over a decade, but I do know that prohibition doesn't work. Every time government makes a substance or activity illegal, it merely opens up a new opportunity for criminal enterprise. To forbid soldiers from indulging in what is currently a perfectly legal activity for adults is ridiculous. I hope they're prepared to watch military enrollment immediately plummet, because no smoker is going to enlist if they know they'll be forced to go cold turkey.

 

More nanny-state interference in what citizens can and cannot do with their own danged bodies.

[Enoch]

Oh brother. North Korea, Iran, an economy in shambles and he wants to ban tobacco in the Military. Priorities... priorities.

From the news reports and this thread, GD's assertion earlier in the thread is so far the only thing I've seen indicating that the White House is in any way involved in this. It's a report of civil servants whose job is involved with military and veterans' health, making a recommendation to the SecDef, who in turn may or may not pass it on to the President (if it would require Presidential rather than Departmental authority to implement).

[Hurlshort]

Do we really want our soldiers going through nicotine withdrawal in the middle of a war? Come on. Anyone who has ever kicked an addiction knows that it is physically exhausting and causes severe depression, anxiety, moodiness and even rage. Combined with someone who carries weapons to stay alive, a dangerous combination.

 

I don't smoke anymore, haven't for over a decade, but I do know that prohibition doesn't work. Every time government makes a substance or activity illegal, it merely opens up a new opportunity for criminal enterprise. To forbid soldiers from indulging in what is currently a perfectly legal activity for adults is ridiculous. I hope they're prepared to watch military enrollment immediately plummet, because no smoker is going to enlist if they know they'll be forced to go cold turkey.

 

More nanny-state interference in what citizens can and cannot do with their own danged bodies.

 

I'm pretty sure the bulk of enlistees are 18-19, so exactly how many people that age are severely addicted to nicotine?

 

They aren't telling current soldiers they have to quit.

 

And alcohol is still a perfectly legal activity for adults, but military personnel are not allowed to drink on duty either.

[GreasyDogMeat]

I can't believe you just compared drinking to smoking when talking about something that requires alertness.

 

Drunk driving is responsible for how many accidental driving deaths a year? (I have a coworker who lost two family members to a drunk driver)

 

Smoking has caused how many accidental driving deaths a year?

 

Gimme' a break.

[Humodour]

The Department of Veterans Affairs spends up to $6 billion in treatments for tobacco-related illnesses, the study found.

 

So by regulating tobacco use by armed forces personnel, potentially billions of tax payer dollars will either be saved each year?

 

Sounds good to me.

[GreasyDogMeat]

So by regulating tobacco use by armed forces personnel, potentially billions of tax payer dollars will either be saved each year?

 

Sounds good to me.

 

While they are at it, they should also ban fatty foods, video games and cursing. All of these things either cause health issues, distract the soldiers from their duty or make our soldiers/country look bad.

[Gorgon]

The army is all about rules and regulations so you could say it goes with the territory.

 

It might affect recruitment in the long run but this is the way of the world now, no smoking in bars, public places, hell the only (legal) place left is in my apartment. Don't meet my smoker friends in cafes anymore, they can't have their poison.

 

The second hand smoking complaint is genuine, but out in the open, come on.

[213374U]

So by regulating tobacco use by armed forces personnel, potentially billions of tax payer dollars will either be saved each year?

 

Sounds good to me.

So suppress state-financed treatment for tobacco-related illnesses. Instead of having the gov't tell you when to take a piss, how about we have people deal with the consequences of their own choices?

 

Yay for the liberating power of socialism.

 

 

The army is all about rules and regulations so you could say it goes with the territory.

No. Discipline is about enforcing a code of conduct and ensuring the fighting ability of the force. If a rule cannot be reasonably ascribed to either it's arbitrary and, consequently, an abuse of power. Edited July 14, 2009 by 213374U

[Oner]

The army is all about rules and regulations so you could say it goes with the territory.

No. Discipline is about enforcing a code of conduct and ensuring the fighting ability of the force. If a rule cannot be reasonably ascribed to either it's arbitrary and, consequently, an abuse of power.

Keeping your soldiers from destroying their health

in like 10 different ways (cancer, emphysema, bone degredation, cardiovascular weakening, gum disease, etc)

is arbitrary and an abuse of power?

[213374U]

People can destroy their health in any number of ways. As long as it does not affect their ability to do their job, it's none of the gov't's business. And that's what PFTs are for.