SAN DIEGO, March 29 An analysis of the career progression of some 5,500 women entering the U.S. Navy over one year found smokers performed worse at work than non-smokers.Smokers were also more likely to have a less than honorable discharge, to be demoted, to desert, and to earn less than their non-smoking colleagues, according to the study published in the journal Tobacco Control.The women's performance was analyzed from the period between 1996 and 1997, during which some 45 percent had never smoked, 27 percent were daily smokers when they enlisted and the remainder were ex-smokers or smoked occasionally.The researchers at San Diego State University also found regular smokers were significantly more likely than non-smokers to be discharged for medical reasons, bad behavior, misconduct, drug misuse and personality disorders.In addition, non-smokers were paid significantly more than daily smokers, even after factoring in educational attainment and time in service.Copyright 2007 by UPI
