The Problem With Smoke
Oral smokeless products deliver nicotine without burning tobacco, and without inhaling smoke. Smoke is the main cause of smoking related diseases. It contains over 6000 chemicals, many of which have been identified by public health authorities as harmful or potentially harmful chemicals.
By eliminating burning, the high levels of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals present in cigarette smoke can be significantly reduced–this reduction has to be scientifically assessed on a product-by-product basis.
The best choice smokers can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine altogether. But the reality is many don’t. For them, smoke-free products such as oral smokeless products present a better alternative than continuing to smoke.
How Oral Smokeless Products Work
There are two main types of oral smokeless products. Snus contain tobacco in which nicotine is naturally present, while nicotine pouches contain nicotine (but not tobacco). The content is wrapped in a cellulose pouch and placed between the gum and the upper or lower lip. The nicotine is absorbed through the oral mucosa.
Smoke-free products aim to provide a better choice for adults who would otherwise continue smoking and help them move to a better alternative, leaving cigarettes—the most harmful way to consume nicotine—behind for good.
Oral smokeless products are not risk-free and deliver nicotine, which is not the main cause of smoking related diseases, but it is an addictive substance and carries its own risks. Certain people (such as pregnant women or those with certain health conditions) should not use products that contain nicotine. Minors should never use or have access to tobacco or nicotine-containing products.
Quitting tobacco and nicotine altogether is the best choice. Existing tobacco control measures designed to discourage initiation and encourage cessation should continue.
However, despite these efforts, millions of people continue to smoke. Science backed, smoke-free products can play a role in moving adults who would otherwise continue to smoke away from cigarettes. Adult smokers deserve to have accurate information about and access to better alternatives to continued smoking.
To learn more, head to the Unsmoke South Africa homepage.
Read our previous article here.
This post was sponsored and supplied by Philip Morris International.