Smokeless Tobacco
Smokeless tobacco -- also known as spit tobacco -- comes in two forms: chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco can be chewed or kept between the gum and the cheeks while snuff can be snored or held in place between the lips and the gum.
How does smokeless tobacco affect your body?
Besides nicotine, many toxic chemicals are used to make smokeless tobacco. Among these chemicals are lead, arsenic, and 26 more known carcinogens. Other lethal ingredients include cadmium, cyanide, polonium, formaldehyde, sand, and grit.
Chewing tobacco actually contains more nicotine than cigarettes. Nicotine works like cocaine or heroin by activating the portions of the brain that control the feelings of pleasure, including the release of dopamine. Even occasional nicotine use causes “pairing” in the brain. Once your brain starts pairing up events like studying or partying with chewing tobacco, it becomes harder to do one without the other.
Some of the effects of smokeless tobacco include:
- Cancer of the lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, pharynx, stomach, and pancreas
- Heart disease
- Leukoplakia (white sores in the mouth that can lead to cancer)
- Gum recession, or peeling back of gums
- Bone loss around the teeth
- Abrasion of teeth
- Bad breath
How to recognize a problem:
Some students think there is no problem with their tobacco use. Answering the following questions can help you find out if you or a loved one has a problem with tobacco:
- Do you crave tobacco?
- Do you chew or dip without thinking about it?
- Do you rationalize or justify tobacco use?
- Do you choose friends, jobs or activities that permit you to use tobacco?
- Do you avoid those who do not?
- Do you continue using tobacco despite good reasons for quitting?
If you think that you or someone you know might have a problem with tobacco use, it is important to see a doctor or other health care provider and make a plan to quit.
Are you ready for your Quit Day?
- Stop using tobacco the night before your chosen quit day and when you wake up the next morning, you will have an 8-hour head start to being nicotine-free!
- Stay active - try walking, exercising or doing other activities or hobbies.
- Hydrate with lots of water and/or low-sugar fruit juices.
- You are more likely to succeed with bupropion (Zyban®) and/or nicotine replacement therapy under supervision.
- Start or continue attending a tobacco cessation class, follow a self-help plan and/or use computer resources. Call your support system or a quit line when you feel tempted.
- Avoid high-risk situations where you feel the urge to use tobacco.
- Reduce or avoid alcohol and caffeine. Why? Alcohol clouds judgment and can make it easier to relapse and use tobacco. Plus, alcohol may be linked to tobacco use for some people and it's important to break this connection.
- Put the three "A's" in motion
- A void. Certain people and places can tempt you to use tobacco. Stay away for now. Later on, you'll be able to cope.
- A lter. Switch to soft drinks or water instead of coffee or alcohol. Use oral substitutions like sugarless gum, hard candy or sunflower seeds. Take a walk when you used to chew or dip tobacco. Take a different route to school or work.
- A ctive: Initiate or maintain physical activity. Try activities that involve using your hands and can help distract you from the urge to use tobacco. (i.e.: crossword puzzles, writing/journaling, playing catch, take a tennis lesson, etc.)
(Adapted from: www.tobaccofreeu.org)
Campus Experts
Student Health Services:
- Appointments with Betsy Foy, Substance Abuse Specialist. Contact betsy_foy@wustl.edu or call 314.935.7386.
- Appointments with counselors in Mental Health Services. Call 314.935.6666.
- Appointments with medical staff in Medical Services. Call 314.935.6666.
All services are confidential. If requested, these services can be anonymous. Inquiries for referral may be for yourself or someone else.
On-Line Resources
How can you learn more?
Professional
Health Promotion Services provides brochures and other resources. To request a program, contact Melissa Ruwitch at 314.935.7139 or mruwitch@wustl.edu
