Health-related behaviors in young military smokers

This cross-sectional study examined the association between smoking and other health-related risk behaviors, individually as well as in clusters, across branches of military service in the higher risk ages of 18 to 25 years old within the 1998 Department of Defense Survey of Health-Related Behaviors among Military Personnel. Examination of the demographic variables revealed that, in general, smokers tended to be single, white, enlisted men in the 18- to 20-year age group with less education and serving in the Army or Marine Corps. Our findings support that there is an increased likelihood of co-occurrence of substance use along with other negative health-related risk behaviors found in military members. It may be practical and necessary to develop a focused survey given to those attending smoking cessation interventions, or perhaps to smokers in general, which attempts to identify associated risk behaviors and channel clients accordingly.