Spit-Tobacco Users Urged To Quit–Great American Spit Out February 18, 2010

Bismarck, N.D. – Emphasizing the fact that spit tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking, staff members of Bismarck Burleigh Public Health encourage spit-tobacco users to get help with quitting during the Great American Spit Out February 18.

“With many public places across the world becoming smoke-free, the tobacco industry has started presenting the idea that spit tobacco is a good substitute for smoking. The fact is, though, that spit-tobacco will not help you quit smoking and is not a safe alternative,” said Susan Kahler, Community Outreach Coordinator. “Spit tobacco contains more than 3,000 chemicals – things like benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic, cadmium, cyanide and lead. Twenty-eight of these chemicals cause cancer. Spit-tobacco use increases the risk of oral cancers – which include cancer of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums and the floor and roof of the mouth – and can cause other cancers, heart disease and strokes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and gum disease.”

In North Dakota, spit tobacco (also called chewing tobacco, snuff, snus or dip) is used by 5 percent of adults and 12 percent of students in grades nine through 12. Boys in grades nine through 12 use spit tobacco at a rate of nearly 20 percent, and 9 percent of adult males are spit-tobacco users.

“We encourage spit-tobacco users to watch for signs of disease,” Susan Kahler said. “If they have a sore in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks, feel any bumps or soreness or see any discoloration, they need to contact their health-care provider. These could be early warning signs of cancer.

“Better yet, instead of waiting to see signs of illness, and are interested in quitting there are services available,” Susan Kahler said. “The North Dakota Tobacco Quitline is free to help spit-tobacco users in their efforts to quit and will design a program specifically for them. The Quitline also offers free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges for those who qualify. These nicotine replacement aids can be a great help during the quitting process.”

The Great American Spit Out is being held during Through with Chew Week (February 15-19). Bismarck area school students will be having Great American Spit Out educational activities at Bismarck High School. Students have developed a Facebook page, which includes a video about health effects of spit tobacco. They will be promoting Through with Chew week by educating their peers through posters and their Bismarck SADD Facebook page. You can interview Bismarck High School SADD students from 2:38 to 3: 20 on February 18th. You can also contact Austin Schmaltz the School Tobacco Prevention Coordinator for Bismarck High School at 323-4800 to make arrangements for the interview.

Through with Chew Week was started in 1989 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. in an effort to decrease spit-tobacco use and to raise awareness about the dangers of using spit tobacco.

For help with quitting or for more information about the dangers of using spit tobacco, call the North Dakota Tobacco Quitline at 1.800.QUIT.NOW 1.800.784.8669) or visit North Dakota QuitNet at www.nd.quitnet.com