VA/DoD guideline broadens tobacco treatment
Recommendations prioritize varenicline and combination NRT while extending pharmacotherapy to patients not ready to quit.
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By
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Andrea Surnit
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September 28, 2026
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The VA and DoD have released a guideline expanding tobacco treatment recommendations for military service members and veterans.
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The guideline includes 32 recommendations across 10 areas, emphasizing complete abstinence from tobacco or nicotine.
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Varenicline is strongly recommended for combustible tobacco cessation, outperforming bupropion and single-agent NRT.
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The guideline weakly recommends pharmacotherapy for patients not ready to quit and for those with stable mental health conditions.
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Evidence quality varied across recommendations, with limited data on newer nicotine products and a need for further research.
