© Heather Johnson/U.S. Marines CorpsStudies show military members use tobacco at higher rates than same-age civilians
"I don't know if there's anybody in America who still thinks that tobacco is good for you," Hagel told reporters at the Pentagon in response to a question about the Navy review. "We don't allow smoking in any of our government buildings. Restaurants, states, [and] municipalities have pretty clear regulations on this. I think in reviewing any options that we have as to whether we in the military through commissaries [or] PXs sell or continue to sell tobacco is something we need to look at. And we are looking at it. And I think we owe it to our people."
Hagel said that the financial and human costs of tobacco use need to be taken into account. The secretary said that dealing with tobacco-related health issues costs the Defense Department more than a billion dollars a year.
"Now the dollars are one thing. But the health of your people - I don't know if you put a price tag on that. So I think it does need to be looked at and reviewed," Hagel said.
Studies show military members use tobacco at higher rates than same-age civilians. A 2011 DOD survey showed 24 percent of troops smoked, compared with 20 percent of civilians of the same age.
Last week, Cmdr. Tamara Lawrence, a Navy spokeswoman for the secretary, confirmed Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus is taking a new look at tobacco use across the service. A Navy official, who spoke to Stars and Stripes on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the topic, said one option on the table is banning tobacco sales on Navy bases and ships.
I get this feeling of distancing from problems and being able to look at them calmly and think more clearly. And also this calm but alert state. Love it. Helped me get to important ideas about the world and myself. I think that this is what the military fanatics are trying to avoid. I wouldn't rule out even the intentional drugging of soldiers.....