They’re Not a Safe Alternative to Smoking

Get the facts about chew, pouches, and other products

Some may see spit, dissolvable pouches, or smokeless tobacco as a less-harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes. But these products are unsafe and directly linked to mouth diseases, cancers and other health risks. They can also cause side effects, such as bad breath and tooth damage.

Oral tobacco products include:

  • ChewTobacco that comes in the form of a loose leaf, plug, twist or roll. Pieces are placed between the cheek and gums and the juice is spit. Also called spit, dip or spit tobacco.1
  • SnusPronounced “snoose,” snus is a type of moist substance often flavored with spices or fruit and packaged like small tea bags. Snus is held between the gum and lower lip and the juice is swallowed.1
  • SnuffFinely ground tobacco, which is often flavored. Dry snuff is a powder that is sniffed or inhaled up the nose. Moist snuff is a gum-like substance sold in pouches and then placed between the lower lip or cheek and gum.1
  • Pouches — Nicotine pouches, such as Zyn, are small packets containing nicotine and other substances. Placed between the gum and lip, they release nicotine into the bloodstream.

What You Need to Know

Oral products are addictive and dangerous to your health

  • People who chew or dip ingest about the same amount of nicotine as regular smokers.2
  • Chew and other smokeless tobacco products are linked to cancer and can be deadly. These products contain a variety of potentially harmful chemicals.3
  • The most harmful cancer-causing substances in smokeless tobacco are tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), which are formed during the curing and aging of tobacco. TSNA levels vary by product, but higher levels result in greater cancer risk.3
  • Because users suck on and sometimes swallow the juices, cancers and diseases of the mouth, esophagus and pancreas are common among chew users.4

 

Chew and snuff have not been proven to help cigarette smokers quit­­. The Colorado QuitLine can provide free resources and coaching if you’re trying to quit smoking.

Swallowing chew can lead to nicotine poisoning

Nicotine in any form is poisonous to children and pets. According to Poison Control, even swallowing just a small amount of chew in young people or adults can lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tremors, sweating and seizures, as well as making the heart beat much faster than normal. Nicotine can poison through ingestion, skin, eye or mouth contact, so always properly store and dispose of all chew products. If you experience symptoms or suspect that a child has been exposed to nicotine or swallowed chew, immediately call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

 

Nicotine pouches may not contain tobacco, but they do have nicotine and aren’t a safe alternative

Pouch products do not contain tobacco, so are more like nicotine gum and lozenges designed to aid smoking cessation. Unlike these quit-smoking aids, however, nicotine pouches aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and haven’t undergone the same testing process to verify their effectiveness in helping people quit smoking.

While nicotine pouches offer an alternative to traditional tobacco, the lack of long-term studies raises concerns about potential health effects. A recent European study found that over half of commercially available products contain toxic, cancer-causing chemicals.

 

Over 10 million Americans use smokeless tobacco, including over 6 percent of high school students. The highest concentration of users is in rural areas.5

Quiz: Debunking Myths about Chew Tobacco

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References
1. Smokeless Tobacco: Products and Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/other-tobacco-products/smokeless-product-use-in-the-us.html
2. Health Risks of Smokeless Tobacco, American Cancer Society, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tobacco-and-cancer/smokeless-tobacco.html
3. Harmful Chemicals in Tobacco Products, American Cancer Society, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tobacco-and-cancer/carcinogens-found-in-tobacco-products.html
4. Smokeless Tobacco Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/ProductsIngredientsComponents/ucm482582.htm
5. Smokeless Tobacco and Kids, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0003.pdf