A Soldier's Freedom

Commentary
By Brad Taft, RN, MS
Health Promotion Outcomes Researcher

You are a Soldier. You are committed to preserving the freedom of the people of this great nation. Freedom is what it's all about.

But while Soldiers protect this nation's freedom, many are not free themselves. Many Soldiers fight a battle for freedom every day. Some win, many lose. Soldiers lose their battle for freedom because they are addicted to nicotine. When you are addicted to any substance, you are never truly free.

Nicotine occurs naturally in tobacco. Soldiers who use tobacco products do so because they have to. They once were free to choose whether or not to use tobacco products, but now they have no choice; they must use tobacco because they are addicted to nicotine.

In 1988 the U.S. Surgeon General issued a report called The Health Consequences of Smoking: Nicotine Addiction. This report states:

1. Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting.
2. Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction.
3. The pharmacologic and behavioral processes that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Just stop using all tobacco products for that day and see how you feel. If you are tense, fidgety, crabby, and just can't concentrate on what you are doing, then you are showing signs of nicotine addiction.

Admit that using tobacco products has gotten you addicted and then make a plan to become tobacco free. You can do it! Our health care personnel will help you. Why not take the first step on November 18 and then make a plan to become tobacco free? Remember, freedom is what it's all about.

Source: A Soldier's Freedom; PR 29-04; October 18, 2004; PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, U.S. ARMY CENTER FOR HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND 21010-5403; For more information about this article, call 410-436-2088/800-222-9698/FAX 410-436-4784.