You asked for information about cigarette smoking among veterans, particularly whether older veterans smoke more than the general population.

SUMMARY

The studies we found suggest that (1) veterans both currently smoke and formerly smoked at a higher rate than the general population and (2) smoking among veterans and the general population decreases as they age but remains higher among veterans.

SMOKING AMONG VETERANS AND THE GENERAL POPULATION

There are at least two ways to measure cigarette smoking: current smokers and “ever” smokers. The first measures those people who currently smoke a certain number of cigarettes over a given period (e. g. , 10 cigarettes in the past week); the second measures those who have smoked sometime during their lives, although they may no longer be current smokers (e. g. , at least 100 cigarettes over a lifetime).

A 1997 study comparing veteran and nonveteran smoking found 35% of all veterans (male and female) were current smokers compared to 28% of the general population and 77% had smoked during their lifetime compared to 49% of the general population. More Vietnam veterans currently smoked than other veterans (43% to 32%), but the percentage of Vietnam veterans who had ever smoked was no different than the overall veteran population (McKinney, et. al. , Comparing the Smoking Behavior of Veterans and Nonveterans, Public Health Reports, May/June 1997 (based on data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES)).

Another study based on the 1987 NMES shows that smoking decreased as veterans aged. While 44. 7% of veterans ages 18 to 44 smoked at that time, only 33. 5% of those between age 45 and 64 and 19. 7% of those over age 65 did so. And the percentage of former smokers increased as veterans aged: 24. 4%, 43. 9%, and 54. 5% for ages 18-44, 45-64, and 65+, respectively. (Harris, Cigarette Smoking Practices, Smoking-Related Diseases, and the Cost of Tobacco-Related Disability Among Currently Living U. S. Veterans, VA, 1997).

The Harris study did not compare veterans' smoking to the general population, but a recent report reveals a similar pattern for this group. It shows 24. 1% of 18- to 44-year olds are current smokers. This percentage drops to 21. 9% for 45- to 64-year olds, 11. 1% for 65- to 74-year olds, and 5. 8% for those over age 75. And the percentage of former smokers increases with age from 12. 3 for 18- to 44-year olds, to 27% for 45- to 64-year olds, 40. 4% for 65- to 74-year olds, and 38. 4% for those over age 75 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Summary of Health Statistics for U. S. Adults, December 2006).

Other recent reports confirm the trends revealed in the 1997 studies. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) “The prevalence of smokers in the VA is significantly higher than the general population (33% versus 23%)” (National Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Program directive, August 6, 2003). A 2002 study comparing North Carolina and US veterans' health conditions to the general population reported that 31% of US veterans were current smokers and 32. 7% were former smokers compared to 22. 5% and 26. 3, respectively, in the general population (Gizlice, Health Conditions and Behaviors Among North Carolina and United States Military Veterans Compared to Non-Veterans, State Center for Health Statistics, June 2002).

The 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that 66% of all Americans smoked sometime during their lifetimes, 29% smoked within the past year, and 25% smoked within the past month. The survey does not report this data for veterans. But a special report based on the survey indicated that 18. 8% of veterans smoked cigarettes daily compared to 14. 3% of comparable nonveterans (Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Risk Behaviors among Veterans, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, November 10, 2005).

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