Safer Solutions: When Will Facts About Tobacco Harm Reduction Reach Veterans?
Although smoking rates among veterans have declined over the years, the problem remains serious. Around 22 percent of veterans are current smokers—roughly double the national average. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) spends nearly $3 billion annually on treating smoking-related illnesses, while mortality rates for smokers among veterans are 1.73 times higher than for non-smokers.
A 2022 study noted that despite comprehensive smoking cessation programs through the VA, achieving long-term abstinence remains difficult, even for veterans diagnosed with lung cancer. Many veterans who struggle to quit also live with post-traumatic stress disorder, which is linked to higher failure rates in quit attempts.
Given these challenges, the VA holds a pivotal role in reducing smoking-related harms among veterans. It is essential that veterans and their healthcare providers have access to accurate guidance and the opportunity to consider lower-risk alternatives, such as smokeless nicotine products. However, official VA information and support have not yet caught up with the evidence in favor of harm reduction strategies.
“Long-term abstinence is difficult to achieve, even in veterans with lung cancer diagnoses.”
Summary
The VA faces an urgent need to modernize its approach, ensuring veterans can explore evidence-based, lower-risk nicotine alternatives to reduce smoking’s deadly impact.