1. No smoke, no problem? No way!!!
The Awful Truth About
Smokeless Tobacco

2. What is SPIT TOBACCO? Snuff-moist, finely ground tobacco
Chew-rough cut tobacco leaves

3. It is marketed as a “safe alternative” to cigarettes
That couldn’t be further from the truth!

4. Smokeless Tobacco is NOT A Safe Alternative
It is just as addictive as smoking and as hard to quit
It contains 28 known carcinogens and 500 poisons
One can has nicotine equal to 3 packs of cigarettes! Chewing 8-10 times a day is like cigarettes a day!

5. Snuff dippers get 10 times more nitrosamines (known cancer-causer) from the “curing” process of tobacco
Chewing for 30 minutes is equal to 2-3 cigarettes

6. It’s just as addictive as heroin and cocaine
It’s just as addictive as heroin and cocaine. (10% stay “quit” for 1 year)
Your body becomes physically and psychologically dependent on it.
It makes your body want to use it more (tolerance). You must maintain a level of nicotine in the bloodstream to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms

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

9. Chemicals in Spit Tobacco
Nickel
Nicotine
Pesticides
Acetone
Benzopyrene (cancer-causing)
Acetone (nail polish remover)
Uranium 235 and 238
Over 30 metals

10. Chemicals in Spit Tobacco
Smokeless tobacco contains fiberglass and sand. It erodes your teeth and……cuts the linings on the mouth and cheeks, ensuring that the user will absorb MORE nicotine into the bloodstream as quickly as possible.

12. The sweet flavorings added to “beginner’s chew” causes cavities

13. Spit Tobacco Affects Your Oral Hygiene
Bad breath:
Spitting/drooling: Your mouth makes extra saliva, and you need to spit out the tobacco juice from time to time.
Tooth stains: You may have stained teeth in the area where you hold smokeless tobacco in your mouth. And you can't brush the stain off with your toothbrush!
Leukoplakia: 75 percent of all daily users get white patches in their mouth that can turn into cancer!
Gum recession: It’s ugly; it increases your risk of cavities, makes your teeth sensitive and loosens your teeth.

14. How About Breath That Smells Like an Ashtray?

15. Spit Tobacco Damages Your Health
Increased heart attack and stroke
High blood pressure
Delayed wound healing
Peptic ulcer disease
Increased risk for diabetes
Low birth weight babies and
greater risk of stillbirth
ORAL CANCERS are likely: throat, mouth, tongue, esophagus and larynx (voice box)

16. Why is Spit Tobacco Use Increasing?
Increased smoking restriction in schools and public places, including worksite
Positive macho image of spit tobacco use in advertising campaigns
Introduction of milder and sweeter brands
The suggestion that spit tobacco improves overall athletic performance

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

18. Methods of Marketing Spit Tobacco to Youth
Location

20. Not A Safe Alternative

21. Not A Safe Alternative

22. You Don’t Have to be Old to Develop Oral Cancer!
Sean Marsee began to use chew at age 12.
He was a standout performer in track.
He developed cancer of the throat at age 18.
After three surgeries that took his tongue, voice box and lower jaw, he died at the age of 19.
He did not believe that spit tobacco was “bad” for him. Even in the hospital, he still wanted a “dip; it was that addicting.

23. Remember…you might survive your cancer but be disfigured for LIFE!

24. People who have lost their voice box to cancer must learn to speak and eat again.

26. Are You Hooked on Chew? You have switched to a stronger brand
You can’t go more than a few hours without it
You have strong cravings when you try to quit
You reach for a dip first thing in the morning

27. How About This…
Only 5% of spit users believed that they would continue their habit after they graduated from high school
8 years AFTER high school, 75% were still regular users
89% had tried to quit at least 4 times since graduation
ALL had started their habit in middle and high school and became regular users within 3-5 months

28. Did You Know That It Is ILLEGAL to Purchase Spit Tobacco?

29. There are MANY programs available to help you QUIT!
Whether you attend meetings, quit with online help or quit by yourself, there will be temptations and setbacks. Try methods that are “DEAR” to help you through the tough times…
A good thing to remember during the toughest moments of withdrawal and temptation to use is the following acronym for DEAR:

30. DEAR Delay: If you can wait another 30 minutes before taking a dip,
or if you can put dipping out of your mind by doing something else and thinking positive thoughts,
A good thing to remember during the toughest moments of withdrawal and temptation to use is the following acronym for DEAR:
- - the urge may pass - -

31. DEAR
When feeling irritable from nicotine withdrawal and presented with a confrontation,
Escape:
consider walking away from the source and doing something else for a minute or two

32. DEAR
Stay away from situations where the temptation to use is high until you are confident you can remain tobacco-free.
Avoid:
If you can't avoid these high risk situations, then plan ahead what you will do instead of dipping so that you will be able to resist the temptation to use.

33. DEAR
Give yourself a reward (other than dipping!) every day you stay tobacco free.
Reward:

34. REMEMBER… You don’t smoke/chew because you WANT to …
You smoke or chew because you NEED to…
YOU’RE ADDICTED!

35. The best thing you can do for yourself and the people who care about you is to

36. Before you end up HERE!