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Learn about tobacco and your oral health
February 28, 2022 — There’s a great deal of scientific information that proves using tobacco products is seriously harmful to your health. Nicotine products can increase your risks for cancer of the throat, lungs and stomach. Also, tobacco products can negatively impact your oral health in several ways... MORE

The Great American Spit Out
February 22, 2022 — The Great American Spit Out is an annual day of awareness that brings to light the harmful effects and dangers of smokeless tobacco; and encourages users to quit tobacco products for at least 24 hours on Feb. 24, 2022... MORE

Graphic for the Great American Spit Out.

Air Force warns Airmen of e-cigarette risks
December 17, 2019 — With more than 2,000 reported cases of lung injury associated with electronic cigarettes nationwide, it is vital that Airmen understand potential impacts on their health... MORE

An Airman holds an electronic cigarette at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Aug. 13, 2014. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the more than 2,000 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury that have occurred across the country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erica Crossen)

Military Exchanges extinguish vape sales
October 15, 2019 — The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the Navy Exchange have stopped selling vape-related products. AAFES removed vape-related products from its shelves Sept. 30. Navy Exchange Service Command removed products from NEX retail shelves and directed NEX concessionaires and vendors to discontinue the sale of vaping products after Oct. 1... MORE

Vape products, including e-cigs, e-cigarettes, vapes and e-hookahs, are electronic nicotine delivery devices that heat a sometimes flavored nicotine-infused liquid into a vapor that users inhale. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the Navy Exchange Service have discontinued the sale of vape products.

Getting off tobacco road leads to renewed relief
September 25, 2018 — I always thought about quitting smoking. I hated the taste, the smell on my clothes, the constant coughing and belabored breathing. But I thought it made me feel better emotionally — even though I felt worse physically... MORE

The military offers programs such as UCanQuit2, a Department of Defense educational campaign that includes information on tobacco cessation and round-the-clock help to become tobacco-free.

Researchers study factors influencing Airmen’s tobacco use during technical training
September 10, 2018 — The Air Force strictly regulates tobacco use during basic and technical training, but some Airmen still use it. Air Force researchers are working with the University of Virginia to uncover why Airmen use tobacco... MORE

Despite strict policies on tobacco use and awareness of the risks to health, readiness, and performance, some Airmen continue to use tobacco products. Retired Col. G. Wayne Talcott, consultant, Chief of Air Force Health Promotions at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and director, Military Population Health Program at the University of Virginia, and his team are working to understand what factors contribute to Airmen’s tobacco use and improve current tobacco cessation efforts.