JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
According to AFI 40-102, Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Tobacco use degrades Air Force readiness, health and leads to preventable health care costs.”
Members of Joint Base San Antonio Health Promotion Services are offering resources to JBSA personnel to help kick those butts to the curb for good.
“We want to provide the least amount of barriers for people to quit smoking,” said Aracelis Gonzalez-Anderson, 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotions program coordinator. “It not only improves your health, but the health and wellbeing of those around you.”
Gonzalez-Anderson cited time and distance as two of the biggest barriers keeping tobacco users from utilizing resources at JBSA.
Health Promotion Services members addressed this barrier by allowing JBSA members to take advantage of any tobacco cessation program at any JBSA location.
Members looking to quit can contact the Tobacco Cessation Program at 916-7646, the Behavioral Health Outpatient Program, and the Freedom Quitline at-1-844-426-3733, or make an appointment with their primary care manager for medication and counseling to help quit the habit.
“Different people require different kinds of help to quit; that’s why we offer many different resources,” Gonzalez-Anderson said.
AFI 40-102 also states that tobacco use is limited to designated tobacco use areas and DTAs must follow a minimum distance standard. DTAs must be greater than or equal to 50 feet from building entrances, pedestrian walkways, parking lots, dining areas and athletic grounds and greater than or equal to 100 feet from playgrounds.
Medical treatment facilities shall be tobacco free. MTF campuses are defined as the area surrounding the clinic or hospital, to include parking structures and lots, lawns and other outdoor areas contiguous with the MTF.
According to Smokefree.gov, Quitting smoking can help most of the major parts of the body. Nicotine receptors in the brain will return to normal levels after about a month of quitting.
Cilia start to regrow in the lungs and regain normal function very quickly after someone quits smoking. The human body is more likely to fight off colds and infections when cilia are working properly.
Quitting smoking will prevent new DNA damage from happening and can even help repair the damage that has already been done. It is also the best way to lower the risk of getting cancer.
“Quitting not only improves your health, but the health and wellbeing of those around you,” Gonzalez-Anderson said. “Let’s make the social norm be one of not using tobacco products, and let’s live a healthier lifestyle by choosing to quit.”