No Smoke……. No Fire

What Is Smokeless Tobacco? Smokeless tobacco (also called spit tobacco, chewing tobacco, chew, chaw, dip, or plug) comes in two forms: - snuff - chewing tobacco

Smokeless Tobacco Smokeless Tobacco - Snuff is a fine-grain tobacco that often comes in teabag-like pouches that users "pinch" or "dip" between their lower lip and gum. - Chewing tobacco comes in shredded, twisted, or "bricked" tobacco leaves that users put between their cheek and gum. Whether it's snuff or chewing tobacco, you're supposed to let it sit in your mouth and suck on the tobacco juices, spitting often to get rid of the saliva that builds up.

Is It Harmful? l You don't smoke it. l You don't swallow it. l All you do is slosh it around your mouth and spit out the brown juices every few seconds. l Since I am not inhaling tobacco smoke into my lungs, it must be safer… right?

WRONG l Smokeless doesn't mean harmless. Chewing tobacco is just as dangerous as smoking it. l The more you use tobacco products, whether it is cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, the more you want them. This is the power of Nicotine. l The addictive potential of nicotine is similar to that of heroin. l Dipping 8 to 10 times a day can bring as much nicotine into the body as smoking cigarettes. l Smokeless tobacco users absorb 2 to 3 times the amount of nicotine as those who smoke cigarettes.

Facts About Smokeless Tobacco l Use is rising among young males. l Smokeless (spit) tobacco is marketed to young people through sports and athletic events. l Spit tobacco causes disease, including mouth cancer and nicotine addiction. l Users can successfully quit.

Examples of Spit Tobacco l Loose leaf chewing tobacco l Plug chewing tobacco l Dry snuff l Moist snuff l Fine cut tobacco

Who Uses Spit Tobacco? l Approximately 7 million Americans use snuff or chewing tobacco today. l An estimated 7 percent of high school students are current smokeless tobacco users. Smokeless tobacco is more common among males (20 percent) than female students (2 percent). l Did you know that the average age of first-time users of smokeless tobacco is 10 years old? Or that female youth are turning to smokeless tobacco as a means to lose or control weight ?

Why Spit Tobacco Use is Increasing l Positive “macho” or “cool” image of spit tobacco use in advertising campaigns l Introduction of milder and sweeter brands l The suggestion that spit tobacco improves overall athletic performance

How They Hook You l Positive image l Graduation method l Advertising Spitters Make Better Hitters

How They Hook You Pictured is a major league role model

The Graduation Theory of Getting Hooked “New users of smokeless tobacco... are most likely to begin with products that are milder tasting, more flavored and/or easier to control in the mouth. After a period of time, there is a natural progression of product switching to brands that are more full-bodied, less flavored, have more concentrated ‘tobacco taste’ than the entry brand.”

Methods of Marketing Spit Tobacco to Youth l “Macho” man image l Outdoors--fishing, hunting l Rodeos l Car Racing l Use it when you can’t smoke

Methods of Marketing Spit Tobacco to Youth Location

Chemicals in Spit Tobacco Do You Really Want to Put These in Your Mouth? l Cadmium (car batteries) l Polonium 210 (nuclear waste) l Lead (decreased IQ in children) l Formaldehyde (embalming fluid) l Arsenic (rat poison) l Cyanide (used in the gas chamber) l Nitrosamines (potent cancer-causing agents) l Pesticides

Chemicals in Spit Tobacco l Some smokeless tobacco products contain fiberglass and sand l That’s right, fiberglass and sand to cut the gums and mouth and ensure that users absorb more nicotine and other harmful chemicals into their bloodstream as quickly as possible.

Oral Health Effects of Spit Tobacco Usage l Stained teeth l Rough patches in the mouth (leukoplakia) l Bad breath (halitosis) l Receding gum line l Oral cancer

Not A Safe Alternative

l At age 12, Sean Marcey started using spit tobacco. l At age 18, he was diagnosed with tongue cancer. l At age 19, he was DEAD. l A victim of oral cancer. l A victim of tobacco. Sean Marcey

Early Signs of Cancer If you use spit tobacco, you should be on the lookout for some of the early signs of oral cancer: - A sore that does not heal - A lump or white patch - A prolonged sore throat - Difficulty in chewing - Restricted movement of the tongue or jaws - A feeling of something in the throat

Tobacco Facts & Statistics - 85% of teenagers who smoke two or more cigarettes completely, and overcome the initial discomforts of smoking, will become regular smokers. - In a study of high school seniors, only 5% of those who smoked believed they would still be smoking two years after graduation. In fact, 75% were still smoking eight years later. - One-third to one-half of young people who try cigarettes go on to be daily smokers.

What Can You Do? - If you smoke, quit as soon as possible! - Do not allow smoking inside your home or car – protect others from secondhand smoke. - Get involved with tobacco awareness campaigns – let others know about the risk!

Questions ???