“Through with Chew” Week is planned for February 18 - 24, 2018, with Thursday, February 22, designated as the “Great American Spit Out.” These events are an annual effort to call attention to discourage the use of smokeless tobacco, particularly among youth.
In an attempt to entice youth to try their products, the tobacco industry spends millions of dollars promoting smokeless products. In addition to the kid-friendly flavors like cherry or grape, these products can often be used where smoking is not allowed. They also market smokeless products as safer alternatives to cigarettes. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made it clear that smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.
“There’s no such thing as a safe tobacco product,” said Jordyn Schaefbauer with Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH). Smokeless tobacco products cause oral cancer, mouth sores, tooth decay, permanent discoloration of the teeth, and many other health problems. “Despite the false claims made by tobacco companies, smokeless products still cause harm, and are not safe.”
Unfortunately, smokeless tobacco use is typically higher for young people in North Dakota than adults. In 2017, North Dakota’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed 8.0 percent of North Dakota high school students currently use chew, snuff, snus or dip. This is down from 2015, when 10.6 percent of high school students in the state reported using smokeless tobacco. Though progress is being made, North Dakota’s youth are still reporting higher use of smokeless tobacco than the national average of 5.8 percent (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). BBPH is proud to help prevent the use of smokeless tobacco, especially among young people, and assist those who are ready to quit.
Reducing the rate of smokeless tobacco use is a top priority for BBPH because it reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, birth defects and even death. Events like “Through with Chew Week” and the “Great American Spit Out” are important opportunities to raise awareness and take action against tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable death and disease in North Dakota.
For more information, please contact Jordyn Schaefbauer, Tobacco Prevention Specialist with Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health at 701-355-1595. For help with quitting smokeless tobacco, visit https://ndquits.health.nd.gov/.