Smokeless tobacco is harmful to health. Chewing of tobacco or sniffing it is known as smokeless tobacco. It is equally as harmful as cigarettes. It can also cause many serious illnesses and diseases such as cancer and cardio-vascular diseases.
Smokeless tobacco is often thought of as being a substitute to cigarette smoking. But many experts hold the opinion that smokeless tobacco habit is equally injurious to health as smoking.
Statistics prove that smokeless tobacco is addictive and needs to be overcome as a habit. It is difficult to quit the habit as smoking. Here are a few statistics which throw some light on the usage of smokeless tobacco and what it means all about.
Statistics Highlighting Smokeless Tobacco
- Based upon the Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2003 nearly 12.8 % male students in Ohio use smokeless tobacco once within 30 days time span of the survey.
- In the report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December 2002 released in January 2005, smokeless tobacco is termed as “human carcinogen.”
- The ROC report also indicates that there are 10 million smokeless tobacco users. Of these nearly 3 million users are below 21 years of age.
- About 46.4 of the present tobacco users who happen to be in middle school level reside in a household where somebody else smokes smokeless tobacco. This has been highlighted in the Ohio Youth Tobacco Survey 2002, Department of Health, Ohio).
- People who use snuff for a long time are more prone to cancer of the cheek and gums according to American Cancer Society.
- Smokeless tobacco causes cardio-vascular diseases and high blood pressure because the nicotine contained in it enters the bloodstream via the mouth lining or the gastrointestinal tract. Nicotine increases the heart beat and as well as blood pressure. (American Cancer Society).
- There is increased risk of cancer of the throat, oral cavity, larynx as well as esophagus. ( American Cancer Society).
- Oral lesions white patches known as Leukoplakia are found on the cheeks, tongue or gums of those who use smokeless tobacco.
- Much nicotine can enter the body by 8 to 9 dippings in a day, quite similar to smoking 30-40 cigarettes a day.(Spit Tobacco: Does Smokeless Mean Harmless,2001 Mayo Clinic report)
- Nearly 600,00 females above 12 years of age use smokeless tobacco.
- Users of smokeless tobacco absorb nicotine 2 to 3 times more as compared to those who smoke cigarettes. (National Cancer Institute).
- Smokeless tobacco contains 28 carcinogens. (National Cancer Institute).
- One cannot conclude that smokeless tobacco is safe as an alternative to cigarette smoking.(Richard H Carmona, M.D. US Surgeon General 2003.
- Impairment in physical performance as well as less productivity.( a recent study in Missouri).
- Nicotine in smokeless tobacco is highly addictive.(National Insitute and Carniofacial Research.
- Smokeless tobacco is very commonly used by youth between the ages 18 to 25.( National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (2000) conducted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.)
- Men are more likely to report the usage of smokeless tobacco as compared to women. ( National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (2000) conducted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
- The death toll due to tobacco related diseases and illnesses will increase from present 3.5 million to 10 million according to WHO.
- Death as well as disability due to the usage of tobacco will increase from 3 to 9 per cent of the entire world figures. Majority of the death will take place in the Third World as well as Eastern Europe.
- More than 100 million people will die of tobacco related illness in the coming 30 years recording higher than deaths caused by AIDS, automobile accidents, tuberculosis, homicide, suicide, maternal mortality put together.
Based on statistics, smokeless tobacco is as harmful to health as smoking. In fact, it is advisable to give up the habit of using smokeless tobacco.
