VA/DoD guideline broadens tobacco treatment - Takeaways - MDSpire
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VA/DoD guideline broadens tobacco treatment

Recommendations prioritize varenicline and combination NRT while extending pharmacotherapy to patients not ready to quit.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • September 28, 2026

  • 5 min

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  • 1

    The VA and DoD have released a guideline expanding tobacco treatment recommendations for military service members and veterans.

  • 2

    The guideline includes 32 recommendations across 10 areas, emphasizing complete abstinence from tobacco or nicotine.

  • 3

    Varenicline is strongly recommended for combustible tobacco cessation, outperforming bupropion and single-agent NRT.

  • 4

    The guideline weakly recommends pharmacotherapy for patients not ready to quit and for those with stable mental health conditions.

  • 5

    Evidence quality varied across recommendations, with limited data on newer nicotine products and a need for further research.

Original Source(s)

VA/DoD guideline broadens tobacco treatment

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • September 28, 2026

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