| FATHER OF MODERN VA
SAYS MILITARY SMOKING SHOULD GO
Study by Dr. Kenneth Kizer says the
Pentagon should ban smoking in all services.
NOTE
from Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot
Org ...
Dr. Kenneth Kizer is known as the father of the modern VA.
Kizer helped develop and implement the VA's electronic health
records which dragged the agency's health care system into the
modern world. Now, Kizer has done a study that says it's
time to give up the butts. However, the concept of a 5-10
year phase-in is ridiculous. If the Pentagon is serious
about this they would give 30-day notice and all tobacco products
would be gone,
smoking would be banned and penalties for offenders would be
stiff.
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Study recommends total ban on smoking for soldiers
From Chris Lawrence
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- You've seen the iconic picture of a soldier
with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, but that could soon be a
thing of the past.
A new study commissioned by the Pentagon and the Department of
Veterans Affairs recommends a complete ban on tobacco, which would
end tobacco sales on military bases and prohibit smoking by anyone
in uniform, not even combat troops in the thick of battle.
According to the study, tobacco use impairs military readiness in
the short term. Over the long term, it can cause serious health
problems, including lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. The
study also says smokeless tobacco use can lead to oral and
pancreatic cancer.
The Defense Department's top health officials are studying the
report's suggestions and will make recommendations to the
Pentagon's policy team and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The study recommends phasing out tobacco products such as
cigarettes and cigars over a five- to 10-year period.
 However,
the suggested ban does not sit well with many in uniform,
including retired Gen. Russel Honore, best known for coordinating
military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas with
an ever-present stogie. He said soldiers at war need to puff.
"When you're tired and you've been going days on end with minimum
sleep, and you are not getting the proper meals on time, that hit
of tobacco can make a difference," said Honore, who was in charge
of the Army's training programs before he retired.
Other soldiers questioned whether this was a good time to stamp
out smoking, given the Army's concern with a high suicide rate.
"For some, unfortunately, they feel that smoking is their stress
relief. Well if you take it away, what is the replacement?" said
Sgt. 1st Class Gary Johnson.
The Pentagon supports the goal of a tobacco-free military, said
spokeswoman Cynthia Smith.
"However, achieving that goal will depend on coincident reductions
of tobacco use in the civilian population," she said.
Dr. Ken Kizer, the author of the study, found that civilians don't
smoke as much as soldiers. One in three active duty soldiers
smoke, he said, adding that among the general population, that
number is less than one in five.
The Pentagon banned smoking in buildings on bases years ago. It
has counselors on call to help service members quit. But while
local governments have heavily taxed tobacco, the commissaries
often sell it at deeply discounted prices.
"The military sends very mixed signals," Kizer said. "This is
what's confusing to people."
The study found that profits from those tobacco sales -- $80
million to $90 million -- often pay for recreation and family
programs on base.
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TOPICS:
veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs,
smoking ban, military, Pentagon, Dr. Kenneth Kizer
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