Smokeless tobacco too popular, officials say

By Carolyn Calvin
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK, Feb. 24, 2011

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Taking a pinch, dip or sniff of tobacco may seem safer than smoking but according to health officials, it is just as dangerous.

"Tobacco companies sell us the myth that smokeless tobacco is harmless," said Wayne Tormala, chief of the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease. "All tobacco use is risky and may cause cancer as well as other diseases."

In an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of smokeless tobacco, ADHS launched its own campaign, making Feb. 20-26 "Through with Chew" week.

Tormala visited the Navajo Times Tuesday, saying that this area has the highest rate of smokeless tobacco use in the state.

Tormala pointed out that, in response to declining cigarette sales and tougher anti-smoking laws around the country, tobacco companies are marketing smokeless tobacco, particularly chew, as the alternative to smoking.

To attract new customers - a priority in an industry where existing customers die much younger than the average person - the companies are developing products that appeal to entry-level users.

"Tobacco companies are offering candy-flavored smokeless tobacco products which are attractive to young people," he noted.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, Apache County has the highest percentage of people - 10.68 percent of adults and youth - using chewing tobacco in Arizona.

Health officials think it's tied to the cowboy lifestyle.

"People with outdoor lifestyles like rodeo tend to take chew more than other people," Tormala said. "The tobacco industry heavily promotes its products to people who participate in rodeo."



All tobacco products contain nicotine, which is addictive, he said. There are 28 cancer-causing chemicals found in smokeless tobacco.

Tormala invited snuff and chewing tobacco users who want to quit to call the Arizona Smokers' Helpline at 1-800-556-6222 or visit www.ASHLine.org.

"A support system like ASHLine can make the difference for people who decide to stop using tobacco, " he said, noting that tobacco is highly addictive. He said personal coaches, including a Navajo-speaking one, are available at ASHLine to help users who want to quit.

"The goal is to stay quit," Tormala said. "A coach works with them to quit a nicotine-induced state."

`The coaches are former users and understand in a non-judgmental way the struggle of how it feels to quit, he said.

Quitting tobacco reduces the risk of throat and mouth cancers and decreases the risk for other chronic diseases.

According to Tormala, nearly 40 percent of those who use the ASHLine succeed in quitting permanently.

For those who continue to use, Tormala encourages monthly self-examination to check for damage to teeth, gums, the tongue and surrounding tissue, which may be an early warning sign of cancer.

"As deadly as mouth cancer is, the chances of surviving are much better when it is detected early," he said.

To conduct an oral screening on yourself:

Face and neck - Look in the mirror. Do both sides of your face and neck look the same? Gently press your jawbone to feel for lumps.

Lips and gums - Pull down your lower lip. Are there white or red patches or sores that bleed easily? Are there any signs of irritation, like tenderness, burning or sores that will not heal? Look very carefully at where you place your tobacco. Do you see color changes or rough areas?

Squeeze your lip and cheek between your fingers. Are there bumps or soreness?

Roof of the mouth - Tilt your head back and open wide. Do you see any discoloration, sores, bumps or swelling?

Floor of the mouth - Put the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. With one finger, press around the floor of your mouth. Do you feel sores, bumps or swelling?

Tongue - Stick your tongue out. Grab it with a clean piece of cloth or paper towel. Move your tongue from side to side. Do you see any color changes or bumps?

If you see any of these signs, see a doctor or dentist right away. Be sure to tell your health care provider that you use smokeless tobacco.

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