While this trend to less drinking is decidedly positive, heavy drinking remains a problem, officials conceded. Heavy drinking is defined as five or more drinks per occasion at least once a week. Officials attribute the decline in heavy drinking since 1980 is to changes in the force rather than true changes in consumption rates. Today, a larger proportion of the military is in groups less likely to be heavy drinkers. Nevertheless, between 1980 and 1995, significant declines were found in the percentages of personnel experiencing alcohol-related serious consequences, productivity loss and symptoms of dependence.
Smoking also shows a continuing declining trend.
From the peak rate of 51.4 percent in 1982, the rate of cigarette usage reported in the 30 days prior to completing the survey has dropped to 31.9 percent. While still above the Healthy People 2000 objective of 20 percent, this rate is down significantly from the 1992 rate of 35 percent. The rate of smokeless tobacco use during the previous 30 days was 13.2 percent. The survey also gathered information on Healthy People 2000 objectives pertaining to exercise, body weight, blood pressure awareness and control, cholesterol screening, seat belt and helmet use, condom use, Pap tests and substance use during pregnancy. Overall, the military met or exceeded the Healthy People 2000 goals for overweight for those age 20 and older, strenuous exercise, seat belt use, Pap smears ever received, and Pap smears received in the past three years.