Deciding to quit tobacco is the first step; becoming tobacco-free requires many more steps towards that goal. And having the support of military friends, colleagues and family members can be a great help along the way.
On average, it takes 11 attempts before a person can quit tobacco for good. Motivation and support are key factors in giving up tobacco products. Studies show that if a person attempts to quit with a friend, they are 36 percent more likely to remain smoke free.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and TRICARE are offering innovative online tools to help military service members quit tobacco, once and for all, with The DoD-sponsored "Quit Tobacco-Make Everyone Proud" campaign, designed to support enlisted active-duty military personnel in their efforts to quit tobacco, with an expansive, interactive web site.
At the "Quit Tobacco-Make Everyone Proud" website, military users sign an electronic "I Resolve to Quit" Bulletin Board, publicly announcing their resolution to become tobacco free.
Then, military users have access to a customizable Quit Calendar, to record milestones and track progress. Expanded networking capabilities allow military users to share ideas, tips and advice to support their fellow military servicemembers, as well as military family and friends.
Finally, military users can now create a blog when they register on the Quit Tobacco-Make Everyone Proud website, to share quit-smoking experiences with family and friends.
The Quit Tobacco-Make Everyone Proud website allows service members to get needed support from family and friends, no matter where they live. This alone increases the chance of successfully quitting tobacco to 15.8 percent, as compared to only 10.8 percent for those who do not seek counseling.
The DoD urges service members to build on all the interactive support tools available on the Web site: military servicemembers can listen to podcasts, chat anonymously with a trained Tobacco Cessation Coach, browse research articles, locate local cessation programs, calculate how much money they'll save when they quit tobacco, and create personalized quit-smoking plans.
Individuals who want to help someone they know quit tobacco can visit the DoD-sponsored web site to find information, send motivational e-cards, and view their military friend's and/or military family member's progress and to support them in reaching their goals.
Giving up tobacco is a challenge, and one that the men and women of the military have the strength and determination to overcome. Thanks to the DoD and TRICARE, the online tools are there to support military servicemembers and family members to keep their quit-smoking resolutions, once and for all.
