Smoking Habits of Young Soldiers

Richards, H. J. A.; Crowdy, J. P.

doi:10.1136/jech.15.2.84

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…Our results therefore suggest that the increased risk of COPD in older veterans is a consequence of the high rates of smoking by serving military personnel, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, which have been reported in a number of earlier studies 5 6 25. The results are also consistent with the increased risk of lung cancer and smoking-related cancer in older and shorter-serving veterans (especially if ESL), compared with non-veterans, which we have found in the Scottish Veterans Health Study,26 and with the increased risk of acute myocardial infarction in the same population which we attributed to higher rates of smoking 8.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…Although formal records of Defence-wide military smoking cessation policy have not been located prior to 2001,20 Richards and Crowdy record that as early as 1962, ‘ The Army Medical Services have recently started a programme of health education on smoking ’, which provided the justification for their 12-year prospective study to examine changes in smoking prevalence in soldiers in the Army's junior units, in which school-leavers served in an educational and training capacity, from age 15 to 18 years, prior to moving into adult service 6. The results of the follow-up study provide an insight into the effectiveness of this early military health-promotion initiative.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevalence of military smoking has reduced over time, although it has remained higher than in the civilian population 5. Possible reasons include the implementation of health-promotion policies initially introduced in the early 1960s6 and the introduction of mandatory fitness testing from the late 1970s, against a background of the falling prevalence of smoking in the general population. Veterans are also known to have a higher prevalence of smoking than civilians with no history of military service, and to smoke more heavily,7 but there is no clear consensus as to whether they experience a higher prevalence and mortality from COPD than do non-veterans in the longer term.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Scottish military veterans

2017

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Scottish military veterans

2017

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“…In 1959, Richards and Crowdy (1) found that the smoking habits of young soldiers joining the Army were similar to those of school children of the same age. More than 50% of the 15-year old entrants had started smoking before they joined the Army.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Smoking Habits of Young Soldiers

Lewthwaite

Graham²

1992

J R Army Med Corps

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SUMMARY: In a survey of the smoking habits of over 6,000 young soldiers, it was found that the prevalence of regular smoking was 45070. Though the prevalence of regular smoking in young soldiers is higher than the general prevalence rate for smoking in 16 to 19-year olds in the civilian population, the excess is considered to be a reflection of the social and geographical background of Army recruits.The survey found that young soldiers who smoke, smoke heavily. "Eighty two percent smoked more than 20 cigarettes per week, 58% more than 40 cigarettes per week. This is higher than has been recorded by any previous survey of young soldiers.The proportion of young soldiers who have never smoked has risen markedly over the years. This survey found that 34% had never smoked. IntroductionThe Army Medical Services instituted a programme of research into the smoking habits of young soldiers in 1959. A cohort of approximately 4000 junior entrants was identified; at the time the subjects were members of Army apprentice colleges and junior leader units. They were followed for 15 years. At five-yearly intervals their smoking habits were examined by questionnaire.In 1959, Richards and Crowdy (1) found that the smoking habits of young soldiers joining the Army were similar to those of school children of the same age. More than 50% of the 15-year old entrants had started smoking before they joined the Army. However, by their 18th year this had risen to 79%. This represented an excess of the order of 17-20% over their civilian counterparts. Furthermore, by their 18th year, Army smokers had developed adult patterns of smoking with over 45% of smokers smoking more than 40 cigarettes per week.In 1966, Crowdy and Lewthwaite (2) surveyed the smoking habits of 8,785 young soldiers and compared their findings with those of the 1959 cohort. They found that boys were having their first smoking experience at an earlier age. Among the 1966 15-year olds there were not only more regular smokers than in 1959, but more who smoked more heavily. In the older age groups (16, 17 and 18-year olds) there were, however, significantly fewer regular smokers in 1966. Between 1959 and 1966 the percentage of smokers, aged 17 and 18 years, fell from 68 to 63%. Among the regular cigarette smokers there was a distinct trend, especially at ages 15 and 16, to heavier smoking in 1966 than in 1959. Despite the reduction since 1959 in the proportion of smokers in the

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“…Although there are no confirmed statistics relating to smoking prevalence among soldiers in the British Army prior to 1959,11 there is some credibility attached to a figure of 96.5% based on the deliberations of the Princess Mary's Gift Fund, a fund inaugurated by Princess Mary in October 1914 which aimed to provide a Christmas gift for every serviceman at the front or at sea. The gift consisted of a brass box that contained tobacco, cigarettes, a pipe and lighter.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%