Kadena's Medical Group leads way to a smoke-free base

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The Air Force wants a tobacco-free service by 2010, and the 18th Medical Group is getting a head-start at Kadena to eliminate smoking areas within its group starting in September. 

Smoking areas around all Med Group buildings will be moved further away and eventually disappear in an effort to enhance overall fitness and duty performance.
"We want the medical group campus to be healthy and promote a healthier lifestyle," said Capt. Beverly Thomas, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron officer-in-charge at the Health and Wellness Center. "So by moving the smoking areas as far away from our buildings as possible, we're hoping it will make it quite inconvenient for our members to smoke." 

As part of this initiative, smoking will be banned from all group grounds starting in September. Smoking will only be permitted inside vehicles or away from buildings in accordance with fire safety rules. In addition to this, "no smoking" signs will be prominently displayed to discourage visitors from smoking. 

"By January, all Med Group members may not use any tobacco products on Med Group grounds at any time or while on duty or in uniform at any location," said Col. Kelley Kash, 18th Medical Group commander. "We are aware that our senior leadership's goal is to have a tobacco-free Air Force by the year 2010, so the medical group is taking the lead." 

Both Colonel Kash and Captain Thomas said they feel that setting a good example is important as medical professionals. 

"The biggest thing is we want to ensure we are setting the example for our patients coming in to med group facilities," Captain Thomas said. "It's hard to tell people they should take our smoking cessation class when we ourselves are using tobacco products. Also, we want to make sure people understand that we not only talk the talk, but we also walk the walk as well." 

To help Airmen kick the habit and meet the September deadline, additional smoking cessation classes will be offered at the HAWC. Currently, four-session classes are offered Mondays at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. this month. Classes in June will be held Mondays at noon and 4 p.m. Early sign-ups are recommended. 

"We started telling our members now, so they can start coming to the classes we already offer here at the HAWC and they don't have to wait until September," Captain Thomas said. 

One Airman, Staff Sgt. Zsanine Jones, 18th Dental Squadron NCO-in-charge of Area Dental Lab Logistics, sees this initiative as an opportunity to finally kick the habit. 

"I first started smoking just to be cool and I've had numerous opportunities to quit, but sometimes there were stressful days when smoking became an outlet for me and it got harder to quit," Sergeant Jones said. "The group's initiative to go tobacco-free is going to be a bit of a struggle and maybe a hard adjustment for some people, but at least we have the transition phase of being allowed to smoke in cars for a few months. That will help back us off of the smoking habit before we go completely smoke-free."

Captain Thomas said the 18th AMDS is pushing the tobacco-free initiative by providing the resources to accomplish the goal. These resources include additional instructors for the smoking cessation classes and funding for smoking cessation kits. 

"These kits include books, hypnosis CDs and fake cigarettes," Captain Thomas said. Medication such as Zyban pills and nicotine patches will also be administered to members who qualify after taking a health screening questionnaire. 

"The Zyban will help with cravings while the patch will help decrease the amount of nicotine in the body," she said. "It's like switching from whole milk to skim milk: you can't jump from one to the other, it's a gradual process. The medication will help wean people off nicotine." 

Sergeant Jones said she's fully aware of the options available to help her quit smoking, but will depend on herself to meet her goals. 

"I'm going to quit smoking by my own self-discipline," she said. "I'm already limiting the smoke breaks I take daily. In dealing with everyday stress, I'll sometimes go for a walk and get some fresh air. It's possible to quit. Sometimes we just need a little encouragement."