Smokeless tobacco is classified as a stimulant
10x the amount of nicotine than cigarettes
harder to quit than cigarette smoking
much more addictive than cigarettes because of the nicotine and the fact it enters the blood stream through the gums makes it worse.
Chewing tobacco and dip is highly addictive because it contains as much nicotine as cigarettes. Once you are addicted to nicotine, you may be more likely to start smoking cigarettes too.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smokeless tobacco contains 30-plus chemicals known to cause cancer, including:
Tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which develop as tobacco is grown and processed.
Polonium-210, a radioactive element in tobacco fertilizer.
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, which develop when tobacco is heat-cured.
Harmful metals, including arsenic, mercury, nickel and lead.
Health consequences of smokeless tobacco
While it’s true that smokeless tobacco presents slightly fewer health risks than smoking cigarettes, it’s far from safe. Smokeless tobacco is known to cause cancer and other health conditions, including:
Bad breath and stained teeth
Bone loss around the teeth
Cheek, gum, mouth and tongue cancer
Early delivery and stillbirth if used while pregnant
Esophageal cancer
Gum disease
Heart attack
Heart disease
Nicotine poisoning
Pancreatic cancer
Stroke
Tooth decay and tooth loss
Smokeless tobacco can also poison children and pets, in some cases leading to death.
The connection between tobacco and alcohol
“Many people find it especially difficult to quit tobacco products if they use them while drinking alcohol,” says Dr. Prylinski. “We have eight neurotransmitters in our brains. When you drink alcohol, you increase the level of five of those neurotransmitters. When you smoke or use tobacco, you increase the other three. That’s why when you drink, you start craving a cigarette or smokeless tobacco.”