Economic Consequences of Tobacco Use for the Department of Defense, 1995

Abstract

This study used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention methodology to analyze the costs of smoking-attributable mortality and morbidity within the Department of Defense (DoD) based on health care costs, characteristics of the beneficiary population, and disease characteristics. Direct health care costs attributed to smoking were estimated at $584 million. Smoking-attributable disease accounted for 16% of the deaths as well as approximately 10% of all hospital bed days and 1.5% of all active duty hospitalizations. Lost productivity among active duty personnel for hospitalization and smoke breaks was valued at $346 million. A significant portion of DoD health care resources is spent caring for smoking-attributable disease, which is preventable. This report reinforces the benefits possible from the new emphasis on wellness promotion within the DoD. Efforts are needed to prevent the initiation of smoking and encourage smoking cessation in order to reduce health care costs and increase the probability for long and healthy lives for DoD beneficiaries.

Smoking Prevalence among US Veterans

“…Estimated costs of smoking among US military health care system beneficiaries were more than $900 million per year in 1995 ($584 million in direct health care costs and $346 million in lost productivity among active duty personnel). 5 Recent data suggest the prevalence of smoking might be increasing among active duty military personnel. 6 Using data from the…”

Predicting Attrition, Performance, Reenlistment, and Hospitalizations from the Smoking History of Women Prior to Entering the Navy

“…[4][5][6] Smoking also imposes a considerable financial burden on society, with treatment of smoking related diseases costing $50-73 billion a year, 7 and $584 million within the U.S. Department of Defense. 8 In both the civilian and military sectors, smoking has been linked to disability and job related outcomes, including decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and long and more frequent work breaks. [8][9] Tobacco use is of particular concern to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) because the military historically has had higher and heavier rates of tobacco use than civilians.…”

“…8 In both the civilian and military sectors, smoking has been linked to disability and job related outcomes, including decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and long and more frequent work breaks. [8][9] Tobacco use is of particular concern to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) because the military historically has had higher and heavier rates of tobacco use than civilians. [10][11][12] Although smoking in the military decreased dramatically from 1980 to the mid-1990s.…”

“…Use of other forms of tobacco (e.g., cigars, pipes, snuff, or dip) also is associated with significantly elevated morbidity and mortality (USDHHS, 1986a), as is chronic exposure to secondhand smoke (Eriksen, LeMaistre, & Newell, 1988; EPA, 1993; USDHHS, 1986b). Smoking also imposes a considerable financial burden on society, with treatment of smoking related diseases costing $50-73 billion a year (Warner, Hodgson, & Carroll, 1999), and $584 million within the U.S. Department of Defense (Helyer, Brehm, & Perino, 1998). In both the civilian and military sectors, smoking has been linked to disability and job related outcomes, including decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and long and more frequent work breaks (Centers for Disease Control, 2002a;Helyer, Brehm, & Perino, 1998).…”

Capsule Commentary on Danan et al., Does Motivation Matter? Analysis of a Randomized Trial of Proactive Outreach to VA Smokers

“…2,3 Routine advice from providers increases the likelihood that a smoker will make a quit attempt. Studies indicate that the interventions that proactively offer evidence-based smoking cessation therapies to all smokers, regardless of SOC, may provide further opportunity for reducing smoking prevalence.…”