DoD Health Affairs announces anti-tobacco video competition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Edwards
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
The Department of Defense Health Affairs announced a new tobacco counter-marketing video competition aimed to target the message of tobacco as an enemy of our military. Tobacco can degrade health, fitness, mission readiness and work productivity.

All DoD service members, families and DoD civilians can enter the competition entitled, "Fight the Enemy", which will run from now until Oct. 15. DoD Health Affairs will announce the winners in mid-November.

"Tobacco is negatively affecting the military in many ways, such as overall financially and overall readiness," said Lisa Roof, 17th Health and Wellness Center health promotions manager. "It cost approximately $150 a year per service member who uses tobacco. We have around 340 Airman on base who use tobacco, so that costs us around $51,000 every year." Lisa gathered the financial number from a 2007 study published by the American Journal of Health Promotions

Tobacco use also puts a financial strain on service members. According to the American Lung Association, tobacco use can cost as much as 10 percent of an enlisted member's salary. Low-income military families who use tobacco become less able to afford enough food to support a healthy lifestyle.

Besides the financial strain tobacco places on the Air Force and individuals, it affects their health as well, added Lisa. Tobacco is linked to different types of cancer and to heart disease; it also lowers visual acuity and leads to poorer night vision, which puts those in a war zone at a disadvantage.

"The Air Force needs to change their perspective on tobacco use," said Roof. "Most people that come to the HAWC really want to quit smoking, they just can't because it's too addictive. We need to create an environment that makes tobacco use non-normative and that supports those that want to quit using tobacco."

A promotional video, contest rules, and additional information can be found at www.health.mil/FightTheEnemy. The Fight the Enemy website will feature the first prize winner's video. Winners will receive official recognition and thanks from DoD senior leaders, and all entrants will receive a gift of appreciation.

For more information on how tobacco use affects you and those in your environment, as well as ways to quit tobacco, call the HAWC at 325-654-5962.