Dipping tobacco

Four tins of dipping tobacco. Nicotine products are intended for only those of legal age. Tobacco, in many forms, is a cancer-causing agent. Please use responsibly.

Dipping tobacco (also known as American moist snuff or spit tobacco) is a form of smokeless tobacco. It is commonly referred to as dip while the act of using it as dipping, having a dip, or having a lip. The term chewing tobacco is often associated with this family of products, although it is a separate group of tobacco derivatives altogether.

Usage

Dip is commonly confused with chewing tobacco. Instead of literally chewing on tobacco, a small clump of dip is 'pinched' out of the tin, and placed between the lower or upper lip and gums. The dip rests on the inside lining of the mouth where saliva carries nicotine to the inferior or superior labial arteries. Dip tobacco users often spit out excess saliva generated while dipping as it can cause irritation to the esophagus and nausea. Smokeless tobacco is sometimes used in the workplace by employees, especially if the employer does not provide many cigarette breaks or the employee is constantly using both hands during work (which doesn't provide opportunities for Cigarette smoking).

Health Issues

Cancer Dangers

It should be noted that dip, along with most tobacco products, has been traditionally identified by the medical community as a cause of cancer. The risk of mouth cancer is significantly argued by some American public health professionals, as noted in several recent and past studies. Cancer, however, is not experienced as a consequence in Sweden, where smokeless tobacco use is well-established. It should be noted, however, that Sweden utilizes a different manufacturing process that is speculated to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals delivered to the smokeless tobacco user.

Addiction Potential

Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, which is the primary addictive agent.

According to European Union policy, Scandinavian or some American smokeless tobaccos are at least 90% less hazardous than cigarette smoking. However, the habit is still highly addictive.

Snus is Swedish moist snuff which strictly measures and minimizes nitrosamine content.

Taxation and restriction of smoking is causing more smokeless tobacco use as "substitution". There is active public health debate regarding risk-reduction for smokers, and reconsideration of smokeless tobacco risks. "...there is a substantial body of informed and independent opinion that sees the value of harm reduction strategies based on smokeless tobacco."

Warning Labels

Warning labels for smokeless tobacco sold in the U.S. include:

WARNING: This product may cause mouth cancer.

WARNING: This product may cause gum disease and tooth loss.

WARNING: This product is not a safe alternative to smoking.

Additives

There are few reports confirming exactly what additives are in smokeless tobacco, and it's very likely that brands vary in what and how much of each additive they use. One popular, and currently unsubstantiated rumor, is that fiberglass is mixed into each tin to cause abrasion to the lip, resulting in higher and faster nicotine absorption. It is impossible, at this time, to determine whether or not this rumor is true, as there are no cited studies referenced in material that spreads this information.

Smokeless tobacco companies

Connecticut-based UST Inc. held 62.5 percent of the market as of the third quarter of 2006 according to Morningstar. The company's brands include Copenhagen, Skoal, Husky, and Red Seal. The next two largest entities are the Conwood subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc., and Swedish Match. In 2006, smokeless and "spitless" tobacco products were test-marketed by Altria Group Inc. (formerly Phillip Morris Companies) and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the former named Taboka and the latter under the brand name Camel Snus. These companies hope there is an untaped market for "spitless" tobacco products (such as in smoke-free bars) because they are a discreet alternative to regular dip.

Canadian tins are smaller in size compared to tins produced for the United States. US tins are generally 34 grams while Canadian tins are 15 grams. Canadian users wait longer for new products to be released and spend, depending on province, up to 40% more. Many flavours are not released in Canadian markets until much later due to tobacco denormalization laws.

Slang Terms for using Dipping Tobacco

Slang for dipping tobacco includes:

• Dip
• Chaw
• Lip
• Chew (while the differences between chewing tobacco and dipping tobacco are well known to dip users, the term "chew" is still commonly used)
• Pinch
• Gagger (more commonly used among hockey players)
• Dapper
• Snuff
• Fatty
• Snooder
• Doodie
• Ripper
• Worm-Dirt
• Cancer Ball

The verbs "having", "tossing", "packing", "pinching",and "throwing" are all commonly used to describe the use of dipping tobacco, and the amount of dipping tobacco used in a single sitting also has several slang terms. These verbs are used in conjunction with one of the slang terms for dip, for example, "Tossing in a Dip", "Packin' a Ripper", "Pinchin' a Lip", or "Having a Fatty".

Alternative products

Tobacco-free smokeless products are available on the market such as Mint Snuff, Smokey Mountain Snuff, and Hooch Snuff utilize an herbal based composition with ingredients such as mint leaves, corn silk or pueraria.

External links

• http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051112-102753-2328r.htm Smokeout: Not as easy as ABC by Brad Rodu/Jeff Stier, November 13, 2005, commentary in Washington Times
• http://www.tobaccoprogram.org/pdf/TC12349.pdf Effect of smokeless tobacco (snus) on smoking and public health in Sweden, Oct. 2003

• http://www.healthpolitics.org/archives.asp?previous=smokeless_tobacco Health Politics: Smokeless Tobacco

See also

• Chewing tobacco
• Copenhagen (tobacco)
• Skoal
• Kodiak
• Snus
• Dip Snap