How do we know smokeless tobacco Are you saying most of what we’re is a low risk product? being told about the dangers of smokeless tobacco is wrong? We have no doubt that smoking cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco: causes a number of cancers and other Yes. Almost everything anti-tobacco health diseases. What you need to ask yourself is groups are saying about the high risks of how did we discover this truth? It came from smokeless tobacco are deliberately epidemiology, the scientific technique of misleading or simply false. They often say Separating Fact from Myth studying huge numbers of people who use smokeless tobacco “contains 28 (or do not use) tobacco over long periods of carcinogens known to cause cancer,” but time. One can note that tobacco contains a what they don’t tell you is there’s little number of potentially harmful substances, evidence that smokeless tobacco actually but the only thing that matters is whether causes any kind of cancer. In your last people who use a particular form of it breath you exhaled a carcinogen actually wind up getting sick. This is how we (formaldehyde). Does this mean human know smoking causes a lot of diseases, but breath causes cancer? Of course not. smokeless tobacco does not. Exclusive users of smokeless tobacco wind up getting Regular use of smokeless tobacco causes a sick (including cancer or dental problems) rough patch in the mouth called leukoplakia. about as often as non-tobacco users. We’re told this condition often develops into oral cancer. What’s left out is that there are What about all those studies that different kinds of leukoplakia, and it is the show smokeless tobacco users get kind caused by smoking that almost diseases? exclusively develops into oral cancer.

These are all misleading distractions from They suffer from one of two major flaws. the overwhelming epidemiological evidence First, some of them include people who use that using smokeless tobacco causes products that contain harmful ingredients The Consumer Advocates cancer or other serious diseases only rarely, like slaked lime or betel leaf (e.g., from about 1% of the risk of smoking. For Smoke-free southeast Asia or India). These people do Alternatives Association get sick from using them. When they are counted with people who use only western Why should we take your word for it? snus, it is falsely claimed that all smokeless http://www.casaa.org tobacco products cause harm. Second, Don’t! For several decades Brad Rodu, DDS some researchers include certain groups of in oral pathology, has been the leading people who use snus in one study, but scientist on the use of smokeless tobacco May 2017 different groups of snus users in another. and health. He delves into the details on the This is a dishonest way to manipulate study facts and myths about smokeless tobacco. http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com results to produce a desired outcome.

What is smokeless tobacco? Why do people use smokeless Isn’t nicotine bad for your health? tobacco? Made from the cured and processed Nicotine is one of the most investigated tobacco leaf, smokeless tobacco is placed There are several reasons people prefer drugs in history. Classified as a mild in the mouth instead of smoked. One of the smokeless tobacco over other forms of stimulant, nicotine increases alertness, most popular forms often goes by the tobacco like cigarettes and cigars. First, helps concentration, elevates mood, and in Swedish name “snus” (rhymes with they enjoy the taste. Hundreds of types are some circumstances can have relaxing “goose”), which is finely minced tobacco leaf available, each with different kinds of effects. Among scientists there is near either in loose form or contained in small tobaccos and flavors. Second, it’s universal agreement that nicotine is not a teabag-like pouches. convenient. With no need to spit, it can be particularly harmful drug. It does not cause used virtually anywhere. Third, it’s discreet. cancer or contribute to any major diseases The portion is often so small no one can tell in a significant number of people. However, you’re using it. Fourth, smokeless tobacco some people should be cautious about contains nicotine, a mild stimulant that many using nicotine, like those with heart disease people like for much the same reason they and pregnant women. No drug (including like caffeinated coffee or tea. And finally, it aspirin) is entirely safe to use for everyone. is preferred over smoked forms of tobacco Also called “dip,” these contain tobacco and because of its dramatically lower risk to What about nicotine addiction? often flavoring in addition to inert ingredients health. designed to keep the tobacco moist and When people use the word addiction they prolong shelf life. Less popular is coarse Doesn’t smokeless tobacco cause are typically referring to some kind of leaf tobacco that comes in foil pouches, mouth cancer, gum disease, tooth habitual behavior that significantly harms commonly called “chewing tobacco.” loss, and other health problems? someone’s health, well-being, and ability to function in life. It’s no secret that smokeless How is smokeless tobacco used? About the worst one can say about tobacco use can become a habit. And all smokeless tobacco use is that if it causes habits (e.g., overeating, gum chewing, nail A small portion (or pouch) is placed these problems, it does so very rarely. biting) can sometimes be difficult to break. between the gum and lip. It’s basically Smokeless tobacco users who do not also The mere fact that one has a habit is only parked in this spot until it loses its flavor or smoke get oral or other cancers, gum meaningful in terms of the consequences of the effects of nicotine wear off. The main disease, tooth loss, and other diseases that habit. Smokeless tobacco users advantage of using this form of smokeless about as often as people who use no experience virtually none of the problems tobacco is that it requires virtually no spitting tobacco at all. This has been known for (e.g., legal, social, vocational, financial) from if it is placed in the upper lip. The portion or decades from large long-term studies of their habit that are typically caused by pouch is relatively small and can easily be smokeless tobacco users in Sweden and addictions to other substances. Are tucked into an area doesn’t generate excess the United States. The best scientific smokeless tobacco users addicted to saliva. estimates show that using western nicotine? Perhaps so, but it doesn’t seem to smokeless tobacco products poses about matter very much if they are. 1% of the health risk of smoking.