Whether you call it chewing tobacco, snuff, quid, chaw, plug, or spit tobacco, all forms of smokeless tobacco are still tobacco. Tobacco, whether it comes in a cigarette pack, or in a little round tin, contains nicotine and other toxic substances. Smokeless tobacco is addictive. Use may cause these problems:
* narrowed blood vessels,
* bad breath and stained teeth,
* periodontal disease,
* an increased heart rate, and
* cancer of the mouth, cheeks, or gums.

The two types of chewing tobacco are regular chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco is leaf tobacco which is placed between the cheek and teeth. Snuff is finely ground tobacco which is placed between the cheek or lower lip and the gum.

TV, billboard, and magazine ads would have us believe that smokeless tobacco is safe and socially acceptable. This just isn't true. You see, chewing tobacco causes cancer where it stays the longest, which is the mouth, cheeks, or gums. And with chewing tobacco, this can happen when you are still young!

Just like smoking cigarettes, using smokeless tobacco can increase our risk of heart disease and stroke. All smokeless tobaccos make our hearts work harder and make our heart rate and blood pressure go up. Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes!

Unfortunately, while only about five percent of adults use smokeless tobacco, about twenty percent of high school males and one percent of high school females use it. Worst of all, young smokeless tobacco users are more likely to start smoking cigarettes. Sometimes they use tobacco both ways, making it even more likely that their health will be harmed.

If you are not already using smokeless tobacco, don't start! And if you or someone you know is using smokeless tobacco, there are lots of good reasons to quit! Remember, quitting smokeless tobacco use can be every bit as hard as stopping smoking. For help quitting, contact your local office of the American Lung Association or call them at (800) LUNG-USA. Another resource is the local American Cancer Association at (800) 227-2345.

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