Health Effects Of Chewing Tobacco

Kendra Hanscom

Health Psychology

Tobacco comes in many variations in today's world. By far the most popular way to consume tobacco is to smoke it, although this is not the only way. Some people choose to use chewing tobacco. This is tobacco that is either twisted, plugged or in loose leaf form. It is placed in the mouth and either chewed or sucked on. This form of tobacco is also referred to as dip, chew or chaw mostly depending on which part of the world you reside. Many choose this kind of tobacco under the assumption that it is a healthier choice than smoking. Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents and is a known cause of human cancer. Chewing tobacco also causes nicotine addiction, cavities, gum disease, heart problems and mouth sores.

Chewing tobacco is available in three forms. Twist, plug and loose leaf. Twist is the oldest form. In this form, the tobacco leaves are braided together into a rope while it is still green. Then, it is cured in the same manner as other tobacco. To use, one simply cuts a piece off and chews it. Often, it is lightly sweetened and is popularly used by farmers. The second form of chewing tobacco is plug. Plug is made by pressing cured tobacco leaves together in a molasses-based syrup. It is then pressed together into large sheets and then cut into plugs. Consumers then cut a piece off and chew it. The third type is loose leaf. This kind was originally the scrap from manufacturing the plug version and is by far the most popular. To use, simply pinch a bit between your fingers and press it between teeth and cheek.

It is estimated that 10 million people use chewing tobacco. Out of that figure, 3 million users are under the age of 21. Almost 25% of young users start by the 6th grade and 75% start by the 9th grade. The majority of users are male with only 1% being female. Most young users will become addicted before their 18th birthday and the age that they are legally able to buy tobacco. Fifty percent of those who start at a young age will continue using and will die of a tobacco related disease.

One may notice how tobacco is marketed. Everyday we encounter millions of advertisements that we may or may not recognize. There have been many anti tobacco advertisements launched in light of the steady increase of tobacco use by teens. Posters, billboards and commercials are aimed at fighting back against the tobacco industry. These ads usually appeal to young Americans and include little known facts about tobacco. These tend to heighten awareness and decrease the pressure felt by teens to 'be cool'.

There are many health effects of using chewing tobacco. On the least severe end of the spectrum, it causes sweating, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, increased