Tobacco Product Use among Military Veterans — United States, 2010–2015

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

In the United States, the prevalence of adverse health conditions caused by tobacco use is particularly high among veterans; however, data on use of tobacco products other than cigarettes in this population are limited.

What is added by this report?

Analysis of data from the 2010–2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that 29.2% of veterans reported current tobacco product use. Cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product (21.6%), followed by cigars (6.2%), smokeless tobacco (5.2%), roll-your-own tobacco (3.0%), and pipes (1.5%); 7.0% of veterans currently used two or more tobacco products. Within veteran subgroups, current use of any of the assessed tobacco products was higher among persons aged 18–25 years (56.8%), Hispanics (34.0%), persons who had not completed high school (37.9%), whose annual family income was <$20,000 (44.3%), were living in poverty (53.7%), who reported serious psychological distress (48.2%), and who had no health insurance (60.1%). By age and sex subgroups, any tobacco product use was significantly higher among all veteran groups than their nonveteran counterparts, except males aged ≥50 years.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Evidence-based tobacco control interventions can be implemented to reach veterans, which could reduce tobacco use prevalence and tobacco-attributable disease and death among this population. Strategies could include promoting cessation to current military personnel and veterans, implementing tobacco-free policies at military installations and Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics, increasing the age requirement to buy tobacco on military bases to 21 years, and eliminating tobacco product discounts through military retailers.