Cigarette smoking and illicit drug use among military personnel has declined significantly, according to a recent analysis of 25 years of data from the Department of Defense Health Related Behavior Survey.

The percentage of military personnel reporting cigarette smoking in the past 30 days decreased from 51% when the survey began in 1980 to 32% in 2005, while those reporting illicit drug use decreased from 28% in 1980 to 3.4% in 2002.

Despite initial decreases in heavy alcohol use from 1982 to 1992, rates increased slightly in later years, returning to a level similar to that reported in 1980.

One explanation for the recent increases in heavy alcohol use is that "changes in recruitment goals are tapping a population with higher rates of pre-existing heavy drinking and smoking, such as non-college graduates."

For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF file at www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol16/16-32.pdf.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from The Center on Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.