Posted on August 30, 2010

Chewing tobacco, or snuff, may not be as visible a habit as smoking – but it’s just as dangerous, and highly addictive. According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control, the substance is used by approximately 11 percent of boys in high schools across the country; around 3 percent of youth in middle school; and even a percentage of girls.

Even more dangerous is the misconception by young adults that chewing tobacco isn’t harmful. Many users are also unaware that it can create a lifelong nicotine addiction or cause life-threatening cancers.

Commonly associated with professional baseball players or as something people used in the past, chewing tobacco can create a nicotine addiction as early as middle school that can quickly become a smoking habit. In addition, the chance that a young user will remain a lifetime user of chewing tobacco is high. Chewing tobacco is gaining more awareness as stories emerge into the spotlight, like the death from oral cancer of major league baseball player Bill Tuttle.

More than 6 million people in the U.S. use snuff daily. Experts say teens need a consistent, strong message that chewing tobacco is very dangerous, and some are calling for new taxes or bans on the product. The usage rate among white males in the young-adult age group continues to rise, with an average starting age of 12 years old.

Teens and their parents may also be unaware that keeping a “dip,” or wad of chewing tobacco, in your lip for a half-hour delivers nicotine levels matching three cigarettes. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), some people become so dependent on the nicotine that they even sleep with a wad of chewing tobacco in their mouth.

Chewing tobacco provides a “buzz” similar to smoking, and the nicotine effects happen quickly. However, the NCI warns of serious health effects from chewing tobacco, including gums receding from the teeth, mouth sores and leukoplakias or erythroplakias – white or red sores that have a high likelihood of becoming cancerous.

Cancer of the lips, throat, mouth and voicebox is also a serious concern. Nearly 30,000 new oral cancer cases are identified annually. This type of cancer is fast-moving, extremely deformative and difficult to treat. Some estimates say only about 50 percent of people with this type of cancer will survive. Many young people have died from chewing tobacco-related cancers before reaching adulthood.

Socially, the habit can be hard to kick because teens continue to believe it isn’t harmful and they often see professional athletes chewing tobacco. Signs that may reveal a young person is using chewing tobacco include stained teeth, sores in the mouth, brown-colored saliva and breath odor.

Parents, physicians and school officials are encouraged to warn teens of the dangers of chewing tobacco. This may be most effective when photos of physical deformities resulting from chewing are used, and those of mouth cancers. Quitting the habit is very similar to stopping smoking, and users must overcome a difficult nicotine dependence. Providing treatment and support similar to quitting smoking may help teens end a potentially life-threatening habit.