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When people talk about
smokeless tobacco, many think of the traditional snuff and chew – with its
accompanying spitting and ‘juice’. But tobacco companies are trumpeting
their new forms of smokeless products called ‘snus’ - a moist powder
tobacco product. It is a form  of
snuff, but supposedly does not result in the need to spit. And R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco has introduced dissolvable nicotine products.
Camel Sticks, Camel
Orbs, and Camel Strips are made from tobacco that has been finely milled
and added food grade binders to hold them together. They can be held in
the mouth or broken into a small piece and nestled between the gum and lip
similar to snus, snuff or chewing tobacco.
The products
come in a variety of flavors, including mint. Since these products are
not inhaled, they do not cause the same kind of lung damage as smoking
does and they eliminate any exposure to second-hand smoke.
Now that South
Dakota has joined neighboring states in banning smoking in nearly all
public places, smokeless tobacco products may become even more
popular. The dangers of smoking are well known – but these smokeless
products pose health risks as well. They contain more nicotine than
cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive and makes it very hard to stop
using tobacco.
People Who Use
Smokeless Tobacco Risk:
- Cancer
of the mouth
- Decay of exposed tooth roots
- Pulling away of the gums from the teeth
- White patches or red sores in the mouth that can turn to cancer
Smokeless tobacco may also
play a strong role in other cancers, heart disease and stroke. |
