The Great American Smokeout (GASO) returned on November 20th, a day dedicated to promoting education, treatment, and resources that help Veterans take charge of their health by reducing or quitting tobacco use.
For Air Force Veteran John Schultz, that same message hit home earlier this year when a conversation with his doctor changed the course of his life. During what began as a routine cardiology visit, Schultz’s physician explained that smoking was putting dangerous strain on his heart. The words were direct and undeniable.
“She told me flat out that my smoking was one of the biggest factors affecting my heart,” Schultz said. “She set me up with the VA’s quit-smoking program and introduced me to Dr. Wolf and the pharmacist. I didn’t really have a choice, and I’m glad I didn’t.”
Schultz, who served 20 years in the Air Force from 1975 to 1995, had smoked for more than five decades. He had tried to quit twice before, only to relapse. This time, he was determined to make it permanent. With the help of Dr. Laurie Wolf, the Orlando VA’s Tobacco Use Treatment Lead Clinician, and the support of his family, Schultz chose May 4, 2025, as his quit date…