Predicting cigarette initiation and reinitiation among active duty United States Air Force recruits

Abstract

Background: The first year of military service in the United States Air Force (USAF) is a high-risk time for tobacco use. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of a tobacco ban during Basic Military Training (BMT). However, no studies have examined the effect of increasing the protracted ban for an additional 4 weeks. Understanding the patterns of initiation and reinitiation following the protracted ban will inform future intervention and policy efforts. Methods: The current study examines patterns of cigarette smoking among a sample of 2188 USAF personnel at baseline and after their first year of service. Results: One year after BMT, we observed that 65.0% of USAF enlistees remained never smokers, 9.6% remained abstinence from cigarettes, 9.3% initiated cigarette smoking, and 16.1% reinitiated cigarette smoking. Despite the extended tobacco ban in BMT and Technical Training, 12.6% of individual who never smoked initiated cigarette smoking and 62.6% of individuals who formerly smoked reinitiated. Over half (54.2%) of Airmen who reported smoking cigarettes at follow-up reported initiating or reinitiating during Technical Training. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that although the increased ban prevents additional individuals who smoked cigarettes prior to joining the Air Force from reinitiating, it has no effect on initiation among individuals who report never using prior to military service. Additional research is needed to understand what may be leading to these high rates of initiation and reinitiation in Technical Training following the ban.

Keywords:

• Military personnel
• prevention
• smoking
• tobacco use

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of 2nd Air Force, the leadership branch for training in the USAF.

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not represent an endorsement by or the views of the USAF, Department of Defense, or US Government.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by grants [DA036510, DA037273] from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (R. Klesges, Principal Investigator). The funding organization had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Notes on contributors

Melissa A. Little

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Rebecca A. Krukowski

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Jennifer P. Halbert

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Ryan Kalpinski

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Christi A. Patten

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Tina L. Boothe

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Christin K. Pasker

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Robert C. Klesges

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Gerald W. Talcott

All authors were part of the research conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the results. Drs. Little and Talcott oversaw the collection of the data. Dr. Little drafted the article, and her coauthors reviewed and edited the manuscript.