Changes on policy governing tobacco use for Team Offutt

  • Published
  • By Col. Dave Roll
  • 55th Medical Group, Chief Nurse
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  In accordance with the Air Force Surgeon General's new tobacco policy, Air Force Instruction 40-102, and previous announcements on Jan. 21, policy governing where tobacco products may be used on the 55th Medical Group campus and Offutt Air Force Base will go into effect beginning June 1 and 15 respectively.

For the first phase, the 55th MDG will become "tobacco-free" beginning June 1. This will eliminate designated tobacco areas, or DTAs, and prohibit the use of all tobacco products at Ehrling Bergquist Clinic, the Satellite Pharmacy and flight medicine operations in Fairchild Hall. This designated ban will include the surrounding parking and grassy areas at those facilities as well. Per AFI 40-102 the campus boundary for a Military Treatment Facility, or MTF, shall be no less than 200 feet and from the primary MTF structure to include parking and grassy areas on the MTF campus.

The second phase, effective June 15, is much broader in addressing use of tobacco products on Offutt. Use of tobacco products to include but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, electronic-cigarettes, stem pipes, water pipes, hookahs and smokeless products that are chewed, dipped or sniffed, will be authorized only at approved designated tobacco area's or DTAs.

The Offutt Tobacco Working Group developed the base's plan to comply with the new requirements of AFI 40-102. The plan was coordinated with facility managers, squadron and group leadership, and formally approved by Col. John T. Rauch, 55th Wing commander. The final plan resulted in expanding the number of officially designated DTAs from 23 to 27, while ensuring they were compliant with the new standards.

Despite the well-documented hazards of tobacco use, 20 percent of Airmen in the Air Force, and 20.4 percent of Team Offutt continue to use some form of tobacco regularly.

"Tobacco use has the potential to impact the mission and the cost of keeping Airmen and their families healthy," Rauch said.

"Our nation and our Air Force are facing significant budget challenges and according to the American Lung Association, the direct and indirect effects of tobacco use cost the United States over $193 billion in 2004, including $97 billion in lost productivity and $96 billion in direct health care expenditures, or an average of $4,260 per adult smoker," he said. "In addition, smoking-related diseases claim more than 393,000 American lives each year."

"A tobacco-free medical campus is just one more step in demonstrating the Air Force Medical Service's commitment to reducing the use of tobacco products in our force," said Col. Steve Mounts, 55th MDG commander.

The goal of AFI 40-102 is to minimize the adverse impact of tobacco use on health, mission readiness and unit performance. It is hoped that by minimizing the number of DTAs, this will minimize the health risks to others from exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, or STS. The policy applies to all military and civilians who enter the base or who use its off-base facilities.

Other notable standards in AFI 40-102 include:
  • Prohibiting students of all AF formal training courses from using tobacco while in duty uniform
  • Prohibiting use of tobacco products in:
    • All Air Force workplaces, Air Force vehicles and government owned vehicles, or GOVs
    • All installation recreation facilities, including athletic complexes, golf courses, and the Base Lake, except in approved DTAs
    • All lodging guest rooms, lodging facilities, Unaccompanied Housing common areas and Temporary Lodging Facility units

      For those who would like to quit using tobacco the following assistance is available:

      The Offutt Health and Wellness Center, 294-5977, offers a number of tobacco cessation options, including formal tobacco cessation classes for Airmen who want to quit smoking. Off-base tobacco cessation options include Military One Source (1-800-342-9647), TRICARE's Smoking Quit Lines (866-244-6870), the Department of Defense, and the State Quit Line (1-800-784-8669).

      In addition, medical group primary care providers are always available to assist individuals who are TRICARE eligible with their desire to quit using tobacco through active counseling and prescription treatment.

      AFI 40-102 is available for viewing at Air Force e-Publishing: http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/

       

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