Spit Tobacco

Spit tobacco, also known as dip and chew, snuff, chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco, comes in two forms.  Chewing tobacco comes as loose leaves of tobacco, as plug tobacco (brick form), or in a twist form.  Snuff is finely ground (powdered) tobacco that is sold moist, dry, or in tea bag-like pouches called sachets.  But no matter what it’s called, spit tobacco is highly addictive and can harm your health.  Here’s why:

• Spit tobacco is still tobacco.  Tobacco contains cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.
•  Like cigarettes, spit tobacco also contains nicotine—an addictive drug.  In fact, holding an average-size dip in the mouth for just 30 minutes can deliver as much nicotine as smoking three cigarettes.  Nicotine addiction can make quitting difficult.
•  Spit tobacco may cause mouth cancer and other health problems. 

Quitting spit tobacco is not easy.  The most effective way to quit chewing tobacco is to have a quit date and a quitting plan.  Successful quitters also include support teams in their plan— friends, family, and co-workers who can help during the difficult times when urges and temptations are strongest.