Safer Solutions: When will the facts about tobacco harm reduction trickle down to veterans?
November 07, 2025 by rstreet.org
Safer Solutions: When will the facts about tobacco harm reduction trickle down to veterans?
Veterans have high smoking rates, leading to increased healthcare costs and mortality. Although the VA offers smoking cessation programs, many veterans struggle to quit, especially those with PTSD. Despite FDA support for harm reduction with e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, the VA has been slow to endorse these options. Some veterans are independently turning to reduced-risk products to quit smoking. Experts within the VA are advocating for harm reduction strategies, citing success in reducing smoking rates. Official VA guidance on harm reduction is lacking, but embracing reduced-risk products could further reduce smoking rates, save lives, and cut costs, benefiting veterans' health and well-being.
