009 Clearing the Smoke: Real Talk on Veterans and Tobacco Artwork

Paradise Institute Podcast (Trauma, EMDR, and Veteran-Informed Care)

Paradise Institute Podcast is a thoughtful conversation about trauma, treatment, and learning along the way. Drawing on clinical work, EMDR, and experience with veterans and other high-exposure populations, the show looks at how trauma affects people—and what helps over time.

Episodes include consultation-style discussions, teaching moments, and reflections on PTSD, moral injury, survivor guilt, identity, and recovery. Whether an episode leans practical or reflective, the goal is the same: to talk about trauma in a way that’s honest, grounded, and actually helpful.

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Paradise Institute Podcast (Trauma, EMDR, and Veteran-Informed Care)

009 Clearing the Smoke: Real Talk on Veterans and Tobacco

February 05, 2025 • Tim Vermillion • Season 1 • Episode 9

0:00 | 2:41

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00:00 Introduction and Upcoming Discussion
00:23 The Issue of Tobacco Use Among Veterans
00:38 Challenges with Traditional Smoking Cessation
00:49 Exploring Harm Reduction
01:08 The Role of Vaping and E-Cigarettes
01:13 Deep Dive into Vaping Research
01:47 Realistic Conversations and Harm Reduction
02:10 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Description:

Doc V from Call Sign Wizard announces an important discussion addressing tobacco use among veterans, scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m. The talk will focus on the high rates of tobacco use in the veteran community, the challenges associated with quitting, and the potential of harm reduction strategies like vaping and e-cigarettes. The session aims to provide an informed, realistic perspective on tobacco harm reduction, backed by research. It invites veterans, clinicians, and advocates to participate, promising a science-based, no-scare-tactics conversation about effective smoking cessation methods.

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Thank you for tuning in to Call Sign: Wizard. If you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, sharing, or leaving a review. Remember, the work we do with veterans is vital, and together, we’re making a difference one session at a time.

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Introduction to Call Sign Wizard

Doc V: Hey, everyone. This is Doc V with Call Sign Wizard, where we break down the real issues impacting veterans and the clinicians who serve them.

Upcoming Discussion on Tobacco Use

Doc V: I want to take a couple of minutes to let you know about an important discussion coming up this Monday at 3 p. m. If you work with veterans or you are a veteran, you already know tobacco use is a major issue in our community.

Veterans use tobacco at much higher rates than civilians, and that's not by accident. Tobacco has been part of the military culture for decades, whether it's to cope with stress, stay alert, or as a social ritual.

The Problem with Traditional Cessation Programs

Doc V: But here's the thing, most traditional smoking cessation programs they fail veterans, the quit or die approach doesn't work for everybody.

So what if we took a different approach?

Exploring Harm Reduction

Doc V: What if we focus on reducing harm instead of forcing an all or nothing decision? We know quitting cold turkey It doesn't work for most people, [00:01:00] and frankly, it's not the only way forward. That's where harm reduction comes in. Reducing risk while respecting autonomy.

The Role of Vaping and E-Cigarettes

Doc V: One of the biggest game changers in harm reduction, vaping and e cigarettes.

Deep Dive into Vaping Research

Doc V: On Monday, we're going to take a deep dive into what research actually says about vaping as a harm reduction tool. No scare tactics, no cherry pick studies, just straight talk about the risks, the benefits, and real world use cases.

Understanding Veteran Tobacco Use

Doc V: We'll talk about why veterans use tobacco at such high rates, why quitting is so difficult, and what nicotine actually does for the brain, including some surprising benefits. We'll also break down the research on vaping and e cigarettes, the controversies, and the realities.

Realistic Conversations and Harm Reduction

Doc V: You'll learn how to have realistic, informed conversations with veterans about cutting back or switching to less harmful alternatives, and where harm reduction fits into the bigger picture of veteran health.[00:02:00]

This is about science, not scare tactics. This is about veterans making informed choices, not being guilted into decisions that don't work for them.

Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Doc V: Whether you're a therapist, clinician, veteran advocate, or veteran yourself, This conversation is for you.

So mark your calendar for Monday at 3pm. Bring your questions, bring your opinions, and let's have real, no bullshit discussions about what works, what doesn't, and how we can move forward. So go ahead and make sure right now you set a reminder, and I'll see you there. And if you haven't done it already, please follow my page.

This is Call Sign Wizard, signing off until Monday.