The 2002 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel

The 2002 Department of Defense (DoD) Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel is the eighth in a series of DoD surveys conducted since 1980 and has three broad aims: a) to continue the survey of substance use among active-duty military personnel, b) to assess progress toward selected Healthy People 2000 objectives for active-duty military personnel, and c) to provide baseline data regarding progress toward selected Healthy People 2010 objectives for active-duty military personnel. As such, it provides comprehensive and detailed estimates of the prevalence of alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco use and the negative effects of alcohol use.

In combination with data from the prior surveys in the series, it provides data for trends. It also provides estimates for health behaviors pertaining to fitness and cardiovascular disease risk reduction, injuries and injury prevention, and sexually transmitted disease risk reduction. In addition, it offers an assessment of the mental health of military personnel, including stress and depression, and examines oral health and dental check-ups, gambling behaviors, and special gender-specific health issues pertaining to women's and men's health.

The survey was briefed to the press by Dr. Winkenwerder ASD(HA) on Monday 8 March, 2004 and thus is released for review and use. The Highlights Report (132 pages) is hyperlinked at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/main/news/DoDSurvey.htm, an abbreviated version of the complete, final report.

The Final Report (347 pages - 1,751 KB) is an Adobe Acrobat file that can be downloaded and printed.