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Smokeless tobacco is NOT
safer than cigarette smoking, despite what
tobacco propaganda may say
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Smokeless tobacco products
which include snuff and chewing tobacco
cause cancer
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Smokeless tobacco contains 28
known carcinogens - Users are 5 x more
likely than non-users to develop cancer of
the mouth or pharynx and 50 x more likely to
develop cancer of guns and lining of the
cheeks (CDC).
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Smokeless tobacco products
are highly addictive. Researchers believe
that people who chew or dip have 2x as much
addictive nicotine in their blood than those
that smoke tobacco. You hold smokeless
tobacco in your mouth for minutes at a time
so more chemicals such as nicotine, lead and
cadmium enter your body than when you smoke.
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Smokeless tobacco causes
sores in the mouth and contributes to cavity
formation and tooth loss
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The high level of nicotine
causes increased heart rate and blood
pressure and can lead to heart disease.
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Use of smokeless tobacco by a
parent is one of the strongest predictors of
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Use of smokeless tobacco by a
parent is one of the strongest predictors of
subsequent use by the child.
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Smokeless tobacco is harmful
to the pregnant user. Heavy metals like lead
and cadmium are found in the blood stream of
users at levels that can be harmful to the
fetus.
What You Can Do as a Parent/Family
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If you smoke or chew QUIT -
get help to do this. Contact your local
Health care provider, check out nicotine
patches.
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Do Not substitute smokeless
tobacco for cigarettes. Quit using
altogether!
