Quitting Tobacco in the Military: Your Guide to the DoD’s UCanQuit2 Program

Last updated 2 days ago. Our resources are updated regularly but please keep in mind that links, programs, policies, and contact information do change.

Tobacco use creates significant challenges in the U.S. military. It affects individual health, financial well-being, and mission readiness.

The Department of Defense (DoD) established UCanQuit2, a program designed to support the military community—service members, families, and veterans—in becoming tobacco-free. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the UCanQuit2 program, its resources, eligibility criteria, and how to access support for quitting tobacco.

What is UCanQuit2?

UCanQuit2 is the official educational campaign for tobacco cessation within the U.S. military. It’s sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD) and aligned with the Defense Health Agency (DHA). The program’s mission is to help U.S. Service members quit all forms of tobacco—including cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vaping), and smokeless products like dip, chew, snuff, and snus.

Launched in February 2007, the program has operated for over 15 years, showing the DoD’s commitment to addressing tobacco use within the military. The program aims to equip service members with information, motivation, and support systems to become—and remain—tobacco-free. UCanQuit2 focuses on accessibility, offering many resources online and confidentially to overcome barriers like demanding schedules or concerns about stigma.

Who Can Access UCanQuit2 Resources

The UCanQuit2 program supports various members of the military community, with a primary focus on active service members.

Service Members

The program is designed for all U.S. Service Members, including Active Duty personnel, Reservists, and members of the National Guard.

Family Members & Friends

A strong support network significantly increases the likelihood of quitting successfully. UCanQuit2 provides resources for family members, spouses, friends, and coworkers. The “Help Your Hero Quit” section offers tools and guidance to help these individuals effectively support a service member’s quit attempt.

Health Professionals

The campaign supports health professionals, tobacco cessation facilitators, and health educators by providing resources they can use to educate service members or enhance existing tobacco cessation programs.

Veterans

While UCanQuit2 is a DoD initiative, veterans can access the resources available on the website, such as the quit plan builder and educational materials. A specific partnership between DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilitates this access. Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare typically access comprehensive cessation benefits, including counseling and medications, primarily through dedicated VA programs like the SmokefreeVET initiative and the VA Quitline (1-855-QUIT-VET).

TRICARE Beneficiaries

TRICARE beneficiaries aged 18 and older who are not eligible for Medicare have access to covered tobacco cessation services, including counseling and specific medications obtained with a prescription. UCanQuit2 often serves as a gateway to understanding and accessing these TRICARE benefits. Eligibility for certain benefits, such as medication coverage, can differ for those stationed overseas.

DoD Civilians

DoD civilian employees can use the publicly available resources on the UCanQuit2 website, such as creating a quit plan. However, TRICARE-covered benefits typically don’t extend to DoD civilians unless they qualify through other means (e.g., as military dependents or retirees).

UCanQuit2 Resources & Services

UCanQuit2 offers a comprehensive suite of tools and resources, primarily accessed through its central online hub. The emphasis on digital tools reflects adaptation to how many service members prefer to access information and support, offering convenience, 24/7 availability, and confidentiality.

Central Hub Website

The primary access point is the official website: https://www.ucanquit2.org/.

Personalized Quit Plan

The “YouCanQuit2 Quit Plan” is an interactive online tool designed to help users start their quit journey. It guides users through setting a quit date, identifying personal reasons for quitting, recognizing triggers and craving patterns, and developing coping strategies and alternative behaviors. This personalized planning process helps individuals prepare for the challenges of quitting and track their progress.

Live Chat with Quit Coaches

A key feature is the free, confidential, real-time online chat service connecting users with trained tobacco cessation coaches. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making it exceptionally valuable for individuals facing immediate cravings or needing support outside typical business hours, a common scenario in military life.

SmokefreeMIL Text Message Program

This dedicated program provides 24/7 support via text messages. Users enroll by texting MIL to 47848. The program delivers tailored messages offering encouragement, tips, and support leading up to the chosen quit date, during periods of intense cravings, and to help maintain long-term abstinence. Research suggests that text-based support programs can significantly increase the chances of quitting successfully.

Support Locator Tool

The “YouCanQuit2 Support Locator” is a searchable database designed to help users find cessation programs and resources tailored to their specific needs. Users can filter by geographic location, military installation, service branch, type of support desired (e.g., group classes, individual counseling), or the specific type of tobacco product used.

Information on Cessation Medications

The website provides comprehensive information on FDA-approved medications proven to help people quit tobacco. This includes details on Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) such as the patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, and nasal spray, as well as prescription medications like Bupropion SR (often known by the brand name Zyban) and Varenicline (brand name Chantix).

The site clarifies TRICARE coverage policies: these medications are typically covered at no cost for eligible beneficiaries when obtained with a prescription from a TRICARE-authorized provider through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or a military pharmacy. A prescription is required even for NRT products available over-the-counter (OTC) to qualify for TRICARE coverage. Users are advised to consult their healthcare provider to determine the best medication option.

Savings Calculator

A practical tool allows users to estimate the significant financial savings they can achieve by quitting tobacco, providing a tangible motivator.

Educational Content

The site offers information on various topics, including the risks associated with different tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes/vaping, smokeless tobacco), strategies for dealing with triggers and cravings, tips for staying quit long-term, and specific benefits like improved physical performance and muscle gains. Events like the Great American Spit Out (GASpO) targeting smokeless tobacco users are also highlighted.

“Help Your Hero Quit” Resources

This dedicated section provides tailored advice and resources for friends, family members, and colleagues who want to support a service member’s quit attempt. It includes practical tips, such as offering encouragement, planning tobacco-free activities, and understanding withdrawal symptoms.

Resources for Professionals

Materials and information are available for healthcare providers, cessation facilitators, and health promotion staff to aid their efforts in supporting service members’ quit attempts.

UCanQuit2 Resource Summary

TRICARE Covered Tobacco Cessation Medications

Note: Eligibility generally applies to TRICARE beneficiaries aged 18+ who are not eligible for Medicare. Specific rules may apply overseas. Always consult a TRICARE-authorized provider for a prescription and confirm coverage details.

How to Access UCanQuit2 Support

Connecting with UCanQuit2 resources is primarily done through digital channels, reflecting a strategic focus on convenient and readily available support platforms.

Primary Website

The main gateway is https://www.ucanquit2.org/. This site hosts the quit plan builder, support locator, educational materials, and access to live chat.

Live Chat

The 24/7 live chat with cessation coaches is accessed directly through an interface on the UCanQuit2 website.

Text Program (SmokefreeMIL)

Enrollment is simple by texting the keyword MIL to the short code 47848.

Email Contact

Users can submit comments or questions via an online form on the “Contact Us” page of the website. An official contact email address associated with the program is [email protected]. Another email, [email protected], has also been used for program communication and partner contact. Users should note the caution against sending sensitive personal or medical information via the website contact form, as it is not a secure messaging system.

Phone Contact

Related phone resources include state quitlines accessible via 1-800-QUIT-NOW, the VA quitline for veterans (1-855-QUIT-VET), and a TRICARE Beneficiary-specific “Freedom Quitline” (1-844-426-3733). Local Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) or Health and Wellness Centers (HAWCs) may also have phone numbers for their specific cessation programs.

Social Media

UCanQuit2 maintains a presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, offering another channel for information dissemination and community engagement.

Benefits for the Military Community

Quitting tobacco offers profound benefits that align directly with the priorities and values of the military community, extending beyond general health improvements to impact readiness, performance, and financial stability.

Improved Health & Longevity

Cessation significantly reduces the risk of numerous serious diseases linked to tobacco use, including heart disease, various lung diseases (like emphysema and bronchitis), multiple types of cancer, and stroke. Quitting also leads to fewer hospitalizations and faster recovery times from injuries or surgeries. Evidence indicates that quitting tobacco adds years to one’s life expectancy.

Enhanced Military Readiness & Performance

This is a critical motivator within the military context. Tobacco use directly degrades military readiness. Conversely, quitting leads to measurable improvements:

Physical Fitness: Studies show military personnel who smoke score lower on physical fitness tests. Quitting is associated with improved run times, potentially shaving seconds off for every cigarette avoided per day, and the ability to perform more push-ups and sit-ups.

Endurance and Strength: Cessation improves lung capacity and oxygen levels in the blood, allowing muscles to work harder and longer before fatiguing. This translates to better endurance during intense physical exertion and potentially increased strength.

Cognitive Function & Alertness: Nicotine withdrawal can impair concentration, slow reaction time, and reduce attention span—critical factors during demanding assignments. Quitting eliminates these risks.

Sensory Acuity: Smoking impairs night vision, a crucial capability in many military operations. Quitting restores normal night vision.

Reduced Attrition: Tobacco use is identified as a predictor of military training failure and early discharge from service. Quitting improves the likelihood of completing training and a full term of service.

Financial Savings

Tobacco is expensive. Quitting leads to significant personal financial savings, freeing up funds previously spent on cigarettes, vape products, or smokeless tobacco. Examples suggest savings of well over $100 per month. For junior enlisted members, tobacco costs can consume a substantial percentage of their income. The UCanQuit2 Savings Calculator helps quantify these personal savings.

On an institutional level, tobacco use imposes a massive financial burden on the DoD, estimated at $1.6 to $1.8 billion annually due to related medical care, hospitalizations, and lost productivity. Cessation reduces these costs.

Positive Role Modeling & Social Benefits

Service members are often seen as role models. Quitting tobacco allows individuals to set a positive example for their children, junior personnel, and peers. It improves personal relationships by eliminating the smell of smoke and reducing stress on family members. Quitting also protects loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure.

Stress Reduction (Countering Myths)

A common misconception, particularly relevant in high-stress military environments, is that tobacco relieves stress. However, nicotine is a stimulant that actually increases heart rate and blood pressure. The temporary feeling of “relaxation” smokers experience is primarily the relief of withdrawal symptoms as the nicotine dependence is fed. Research and program materials emphasize that stress levels generally decrease after an individual successfully quits tobacco. Addressing this myth directly is crucial, as stress is often cited as a reason for continuing tobacco use.

Understanding Cessation Effectiveness

Quitting tobacco is a significant challenge. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and overcoming dependence often requires multiple attempts. Success rates for quitting without any assistance (“cold turkey”) are typically low, with estimates ranging from 3-7% achieving long-term abstinence.

UCanQuit2 is designed around evidence-based strategies known to substantially increase the chances of successfully quitting and staying quit:

Combination Therapy

The most effective approach involves combining behavioral support with pharmacotherapy. Studies consistently show that smokers who use both counseling/support and cessation medications have significantly higher odds of success—often two to three times higher—compared to those using no aid. UCanQuit2 facilitates access to both components: behavioral support through its website tools, live chat, and text program, and pharmacotherapy information linked to TRICARE coverage.

Counseling and Support

Various forms of behavioral support are proven effective. Even brief advice from a health professional can increase quit rates by up to 30%, while more intensive counseling can increase success by 84%. Quitlines and digital interventions like text messaging programs are also effective, with some research suggesting text support can double the chances of quitting. Proactive outreach from support services tends to yield better results than reactive models where the user must initiate every contact. UCanQuit2’s live chat, SmokefreeMIL text program, and personalized quit plan align with these evidence-based behavioral interventions.

Medications

FDA-approved cessation medications (NRT, Bupropion, Varenicline) are effective tools that can significantly ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings, often doubling a person’s chances of quitting successfully compared to placebo. UCanQuit2 provides crucial information about these medications and how eligible TRICARE beneficiaries can access them.

While comprehensive, publicly available data detailing the specific long-term quit rates achieved solely through the UCanQuit2 program appear limited in the reviewed materials, evidence from related studies and the program’s structure suggest its potential for effectiveness:

• Military-specific research shows that mandatory cessation during basic training leads to improved physical performance among prior smokers.
• DoD and VA surveys provide ongoing data on tobacco use prevalence and quit attempts within the military and veteran populations, though self-reported data can vary.
• An early DoD report from 2007 on precursor/related demonstration projects indicated that comprehensive cessation programs produced abstinence rates comparable to those of established civilian quitlines.
• Studies involving TRICARE beneficiaries using related services like the Freedom Quitline demonstrated that proactive interventions improved quit rates, although relapse remained a significant challenge. One study involving tailored cessation emails to smokers showed higher abstinence rates (34%) for those receiving more frequent, customized messages compared to fewer or non-tailored messages.

The structure of UCanQuit2, offering multiple evidence-based components (pharmacotherapy information/access, diverse behavioral supports), aligns well with established clinical practice guidelines for comprehensive tobacco treatment. This multi-modal approach maximizes the potential for user success by catering to different needs and preferences and providing layers of support. However, the high rates of relapse observed even in structured military cessation programs underscore that quitting is often a chronic process rather than a single event. This highlights the critical importance of ongoing support resources, such as those offered in UCanQuit2’s “Stay Quit” section and the continuous availability of tools like the 24/7 chat and text messaging, to help individuals navigate challenges and prevent or manage relapse long after their initial quit date.

Related Cessation Resources

While UCanQuit2 is the DoD’s flagship program, numerous other resources are available to support tobacco cessation efforts within the broader military and veteran community. Navigating these options can sometimes be confusing due to overlapping services and differing eligibility criteria, underscoring the value of comprehensive guides and tools like the UCanQuit2 Support Locator.

VA Resources for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers robust cessation support for enrolled veterans:

• VA Healthcare Providers: Veterans can discuss quitting and treatment options with their VA primary care provider or mental health clinician.
• VA Quitline: A dedicated toll-free line provides counseling specifically for veterans: 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838).
• SmokefreeVET: This initiative includes a website (accessible via VA channels) with tailored information and tools, as well as a text messaging support program for veterans.
• Medication Coverage: VA pharmacies provide cessation medications, often at no cost, to enrolled veterans receiving care.

Smokefree.gov

Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, this comprehensive website offers a wide array of resources for the general public, including:

• Personalized quit plans, mobile apps, and educational articles.
• Multiple text messaging programs (including SmokefreeTXT, Practice Quit, etc., using the same 47848 short code as SmokefreeMIL) tailored to different needs and readiness levels.
• Information on quitting various tobacco products and managing challenges like cravings and stress.
• URL: https://smokefree.gov/

State Quitlines

Every U.S. state offers a free telephone quitline providing counseling and support. Calling the national portal number 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) automatically routes callers to their respective state’s service. Many state quitlines also offer web-based support and may provide free or discounted NRT.

Other DoD/Military Resources

Beyond UCanQuit2’s online platform, support may be available locally through:

• Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs): Hospitals and clinics on base often have health promotion departments or specific clinics offering tobacco cessation classes, counseling, and provider support.
• Health and Wellness Centers (HAWCs): These centers frequently run cessation programs and provide resources. Contacting the local MTF or HAWC is recommended to learn about installation-specific offerings.

Our articles make government information more accessible. Please consult a qualified professional for financial, legal, or health advice specific to your circumstances.