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Smokeless
(Spit) Tobacco
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Smokeless
Tobacco Products |
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| Smokeless
tobacco, sometimes referred to as “spit” or
“chewing” tobacco, is a type of tobacco product
that is place inside the mouth (referred to as a “wad”).
This gives the user a continuous high from the nicotine.
It is produced in many different forms with a variety
of brands, and even different flavors to choose from.
Unfortunately smokeless tobacco use is growing as secondhand
smoke in public is becoming socially unacceptable and
restricted in some areas. New products that do not require
the user to spit, and deceptive media campaigns have
increased its appeal.
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| Types
of Smokeless Tobacco |
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Oral
(moist) snuff also known as “dip”
is a finely cut, processed tobacco, which the user
places between the cheek and gum. |
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Loose-leaf
chewing tobacco is stripped and processed
cigar-type tobacco leaves that are loosely packed
to form small strips. It is often sold in a foil-lined
pouch and usually treated with sugar or licorice. |
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Plug
chewing tobacco consists of small, oblong
blocks of semi-soft chewing tobacco that often contain
sweeteners and other flavoring agents. |
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Nasal
snuff is a fine tobacco powder that is
sniffed into the nostrils. Flavorings may be added
during fermentation, and perfumes may be added after
grinding. |
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Snus
is popular in Sweden, but relatively new in the
U.S. It is a small pouch of tobacco placed between
the lip and gum that is both dry and “spit-free.”
1 |
For a printer friendly description go to the Smokeless
Tobacco Products page at:
http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/smklsprod.pdf
.
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Health
Effects of Spit Tobacco |
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Smokeless
tobacco use is a significant health risk and cause of
disease. Despite claims to the contrary, it is NOT a
safe alternative to smoking or method of quitting.2
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| Chemicals
Found In Smokeless Tobacco |
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Smokeless
tobacco and snuff contain 3,000
chemicals including 28 carcinogens (cancer-causing
agents)3 which include:
| Formaldehyde
Embalming fluid
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Arsenic
Especially potent poison
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Polonium-210
Nuclear waste
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Cadmium
Used in car batteries
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Acetone
Paint Stripper
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Ammonia
Toilet bowl cleaner
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Nicotine
Insecticide
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Nickel
Carcinogen
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Tobacco-specific
nitrosamines (TSNAs)
are the most harmful carcinogens. They are formed
during the growing, curing, fermenting, and aging
of tobacco. TSNAs have been detected in some smokeless
tobacco products at levels 100 times higher than
what is allowed in foods, such as bacon and beer.4
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Nicotine |
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Nicotine,
a highly addictive substance is the main ingredient
in smokeless tobacco. |
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The
amount of nicotine in a can of smokeless tobacco
is roughly 144 milligrams, which is equal
to about 80 cigarettes. In other words, one
can of snuff or dip equals about four packs
of cigarettes.5 |
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Nicotine
from smokeless tobacco stays in the bloodstream
for a longer time when compared to cigarettes.4 |
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| Short
and Long-Term Health Effects |
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There are numerous short
and long-term effects of smokeless tobacco including: |
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Bad
Breath |
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Decreased
athletic ability |
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Addiction |
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Ulcers |
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Heart
disease, including heart attack & stroke |
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Tooth
and bone loss |
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Mouth
Sores (70% of smokeless tobacco users have
sores)3 |
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Cancer of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx,
stomach and pancreas, just to name a few |
For more detailed information about the health
effects of smokeless tobacco go to the Health
Effects of Smokeless Tobacco information sheet
at:
http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/hlthsmkls.pdf
(PDF 28KB)
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| Current
Trends |
As
U.S. smoking rates decline, smokeless tobacco
use is on the rise. According to the Federal Trade
Commission, the number of cigarettes sold or given
away has dropped from 402.2 billion in 2001 to
354.6 billion in 2005 ; the number of pounds of
smokeless tobacco sold increased from 112.19 million
in 2001 to 116.2 million in 2005.
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| Use
Rates |
Sources: 8,9
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Groups
At High Risk for Smokeless Tobacco Use |
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Youth
who smoke cigarettes are 8 times more likely
to use smokeless tobacco; only 2% of non-cigarette-smoking
youth report smokeless tobacco use.10 |
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High
School males |
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Among
racial/ethnic groups for adults – American
Indians and Whites |
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Among
racial/ethnic groups for youth – Whites
and Hispanics |
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People
living in Southern and North Central States9 |
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People
employed in blue collar occupations, service/laborer
jobs or unemployed9 |
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For
more detailed information on use trends go to the Current
Trends in Smokeless Tobacco in Utah at:
http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/trdssmkls.pdf (PDF
32 KB)
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| Advertising
and Marketing Tactics |
Despite
MSA (Master Settlement Agreement) restrictions on youth
advertising, smokeless tobacco products continue to
be tailored and aggressively marketed towards youth.
Among all high school seniors who have ever used smokeless
tobacco, almost 75% began by the ninth grade.1
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| Advertising
Funds Increase |
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During
2005, the five largest tobacco manufacturers spent a new
record of $250.79 million on smokeless tobacco advertising
and promotion, versus the previous record of $236.68 million
in 2001.9 |
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For
the period 1997-2001, USSTC’s (U.S. Smokeless
Tobacco Company) expenditures in youth magazines increased
from $3.6 million to $9.4 million, a 161% increase!11 |
Other factors that affect the marketing of tobacco include:
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Flavored
Products |
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Magazine
Advertizements |
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Sponsorships |
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Free
Samples |
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For more deteailed information about the marketing of
smokeless tobacco go the the Smokeless Tobacco and Marketing
Tactics information page at:
http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/advsmkls.pdf
(PDF 47KB)
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| The
History of Smokeless Tobacco |
| As
far back as 1 BCE (Before Common Era) the tobacco plant
was discovered by American inhabitants. They began to
find ways to use tobacco such as smoking (in a variety
of ways) and chew. As time went on, a complex system
of religious and political ceremonies were developed
around it. During the 1800’s tobacco chewing became
known as the “American habit.” A communal
snuff box and cuspidors were even installed for members
of congress, a practice which continued until 1935.
In the 1970’s spit tobacco began to slowly shift
from a product primarily used by older men to one used
predominantly by young men and boys. Presently,
3% of adults and 8% of high school students in the U.S.
are current spit tobacco users.
For more detailed historical information go to the History
of Smokeless Tobacco information page at: http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/hissmkls.pdf
(PDF
14KB)
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| Other
Useful Smokeless Tobacco Links |
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| How
to Quit |
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Youth |
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Adult |
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| Sources |
| 1. |
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. “Smokeless
Tobacco & Kids.” 3 October 2007. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0003.pdf |
| 2 |
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. “Smokeless
Tobacco in the US.” 4 October 2007. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0231.pdf |
| 3 |
The Bacchus Network. “Top Facts: Spit
Tobacco.” November 2006. 4 October 2007. http://www.tobaccofreeu.org/pdf/spit_web_site.pdf |
| 4 |
National Cancer Institute. “Smokeless
Tobacco & Cancer: Q&A.” 30 May 2003. U.S.
National Institutes of Health. 4 October 2007. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/smokeless |
| 5 |
National Spit Tobacco Education Program.
“Spit Tobacco Facts.” Oral Health America.
4 October 2007. http://www.nstep.org/WhatYouNeedtoKnow.htm |
| 6 |
Federal Trade Commission. “Cigarette
Report for 2004 and 2005.” 2007. 9 October 2007.
http://www.ftc.gov/reports/tobacco/2007cigarette2004-2005.pdf |
| 7 |
Federal Trade Commission. “Smokeless
Tobacco Report for the years 2002-2005.” 2007. 9
October 2007. http://www.ftc.gov/reports/tobacco/02-05smokeless0623105.pdf |
| 8 |
Centers for Disease Control. State Tobacco
Activities Tracking and Evaluation System. Department
of Health and Human Services. 13 May 2007. http://www.apps.nccd.cdc.gov/statesytem |
| 9 |
Centers for Disease Control. “Fact
Sheet: Smokeless Tobacco.” April 2007. Department
of Health and Human Services. 9 October 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/smokeless_tobacco.htm |
| 10 |
American Legacy Foundation. “Beyond
Cigarettes: The Use of Other Tobacco Products.”
March 2005. 1 June 2007. http://www.americanlegacy.org/Files/FLR_15.pdf |
| 11 |
Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids. “The
US isn’t Sweden.” 15 October 2007. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0283.pdf |
