The Smoking Habits of Young Soldiers

Abstract

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

Smoking prevalence amongst UK Armed Forces recruits: changes in behaviour after 3 years follow-up and factors affecting smoking behaviour

“…Although the Tri-service survey conducted in 19897 was not restricted to recruits (so includes older personnel), the prevalences we report at 3-years follow-up are similar to those found in this survey. The prevalence we found amongst Army recruits is also similar to that reported by Lewthwaite and Graham for Army recruits in 198812 (45%), and our estimate at enlistment of 13% for Royal Marines corresponds directly to the published estimate 14. Apart from the RM, there were significant differences between the smoking behaviour of officers and other ranks but, even amongst officers, smoking prevalence had increased by 2002.…”

“…Although the rates of smoking reported were very high, there was a clear reduction in recruits smoking over this time period. When the survey was repeated in 1988, the prevalence of regular smoking amongst young soldiers was found to be 45% 12. More recent collection of lifestyle data on a small sample of Army recruits found that 40% were current smokers and 11% were ex-smokers 13.…”

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Scottish military veterans

“…Ex-smokers were most likely to cite fitness and health as a reason for quitting,22 suggesting a positive impact of the mandatory cardiorespiratory fitness testing programme which had been introduced in the late 1970s. It is likely that wider societal trends in smoking were also contributory, although military smoking remained higher 5. Smoking cessation support including brief intervention, nicotine replacement and pharmacological intervention is now routinely embedded in Defence Primary Care 23.…”

“…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.…”

Tuberculosis in Scottish military veterans: evidence from a retrospective cohort study of 57 000 veterans and 173 000 matched non-veterans

“…Military personnel may be at increased risk of tuberculosis as a result of shared accommodation,6 increased prevalence of smoking,7 8 alcohol consumption9 or as a result of military service in high-risk areas. In the late 19th century, tuberculosis was a major cause of manpower loss, accounting for around 17% of medical discharges from the British Army in 1891 (300 per 100 000 strength per year), and was the most common disease-related cause of discharge from service.…”