Service members encouraged to "kick butts" during annual smokeout

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FALLS CHURCH, Va. --  TRICARE and the Military Health System encourage Service members, their families and retired beneficiaries to visit www.ucanquit2.org, in celebration of the annual Great American Smokeout to be held Nov. 15. 

Ucanquit2.org is the official Web site of the "Quit Tobacco. Make Everyone Proud." educational campaign sponsored by the Department of Defense. The mission of the site is to help Uniformed Service personnel quit tobacco - for themselves and for the people they love. 

"We encourage everyone to get involved and help their loved ones quit tobacco. No one should have to do it alone and there are great resources available on www.ucanquit2.org," said Army Major General Elder Granger, Deputy Director, TRICARE Management Activity. 

This Web-based cessation information and support tool provides help to those wanting to quit tobacco and those helping others to quit tobacco. On the site, users can develop a personalized plan for quitting; get information; play games; listen to podcasts; connect to Federal, Military, State, local, and on-line cessation programs; and communicate privately with a trained cessation counselor, seven days a week between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. (eastern standard time). 

According to a 2005 DoD survey of health related behaviors among Active Duty Military personnel, the prevalence of smoking among 18 to 25 year olds on Active Duty was significantly higher than among their civilian counterparts (men, 42.4 percent versus 37.6 percent; women, 29.2 percent versus 25.8 percent). 

"Despite decades of efforts to reduce the use of tobacco, it remains firmly entrenched in a segment of the Military population, with new smokers and chewers starting every day," said MG Granger. "The Great American Smokeout is a great time for Service Members and Federal employees to begin their quit plan." 

The Great American Smokeout promotion is the American Cancer Society's annual, nationally recognized day when it asks smokers to give up cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, or any tobacco product because of their health risks.