Smokeless Tobacco Products Are Not a Safer Alternative to Cigarettes
The American Heart Association announced that smokeless tobacco products should not be used as an alternative to cigarettes or to assist in smoking cessation, as these products are equally addictive and can lead to smoking relapse. Dry and moist snuff and chewing tobacco can also increase the risk of heart-related conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and certain cancers. The statement was published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Mariann Piano, Ph.D., lead author of the statement and a professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said that no tobacco product is safe to consume.
In Sweden, there was a significant drop in smoking among men between 1976 and 2002, which corresponded to an increase in the use of smokeless tobacco. This led some to believe that smokeless tobacco was a “safer” alternative to cigarettes. However, the opposite was found in a recent United States study, in that there was no reduction in smoking among those who used smokeless tobacco products.
The Association said that for people who are trying to quit smoking, nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine gum or patches are safer than using smokeless tobacco products, as these types of therapies haven’t been found to increase the risk of heart problems.
With the increased banning of smoking in public areas in the United States, the tobacco industry has been promoting smokeless tobacco as a substitute for cigarettes where smoking is prohibited. Piano said that as these products are dangerous and addictive, they are not a safer alternative.
The statement also said that there has been an increase in smokeless tobacco use by teenage boys. In June of this year, a law went into effect that prohibits selling tobacco products to those younger than 18.
Piano added that researchers and policy makers should re-think the message of “reduced risk” that is associated with smokeless tobacco products, especially for those who are trying to quit smoking.
"Scientists and policy makers need to assess the effect of "reduced risk" messages related to smokeless tobacco use on public perception, especially among smokers who might be trying to quit," said Piano.
Source: Science Daily, Smokeless Tobacco Products Not a Safe Option, Won't Help Smokers Quit, Analysis Finds, September 14, 2010
