Great American Spit Out Targets Smokeless Tobacco Users - February 18th, 2011
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Feb. 21, 2011) – Smokeless tobacco use remains a serious problem in Arkansas, especially among the male population. Communities statewide continue to fight its use, and in partnership, the Stamp Out Smoking program is encouraging all Arkansans to participate in the Great American Spit Out on February 24.
National rates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 7 percent of adult males and 11 percent of male high school students are smokeless tobacco users, and those statistics are much higher in Arkansas. 2009 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the 2010 Arkansas Youth Tobacco Survey show that 10 percent of adult males and 25 percent of male high school students in the state are smokeless tobacco users.
Smokeless tobacco includes snuff, dip, chew and spit, among others, and can be packaged to look like candy or gum to target youth. The dangers of chewing and spitting tobacco include: cracking and bleeding lips and gums; receding gums, gum disease and tooth decay; increased heart rate, high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats – all leading to a greater risk of heart attacks and brain damage (from a stroke), and oral cancer which occurs in the lips, the tongue, the floor and roof of the mouth, the cheeks, or gums.
“Some people think smokeless tobacco is a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes, but it poses many health risks too,” said Carolyn Dresler, M.D., Director of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. “It is our responsibility to spread the message about the danger of tobacco and encourage adults and youth early on to quit using or, more importantly, never to start in the first place.”
The Great American Spit Out is part of a national weeklong public awareness campaign called Through With Chew Week, which occurs from February 20-26.
Stamp Out Smoking is the media and public education campaign of the Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. For resources to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit stampoutsmoking.com or www.healthy.arkansas.gov for more information.
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