Celebrate the Great American Spit-Out

Just as the Great American Smokeout is celebrated every November, so is the Great American Spit-Out every February.  Spit tobacco often conjures images of older men, baseball players, and cowboys, but according to the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 13.4% of high school boys reported current spit tobacco use. 

Modeled after the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, and taking place on Thursday, the 19th of “Through with Chew Week” (February 15-21), the Great American Spit-Out is a day to encourage spit-tobacco users to quit and for schools and communities to examine what is being  done to keep kids 100% tobacco-free.

“Through with Chew Week” was developed in 1989 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology partly in response to a high school student in Wyoming who mistakenly thought that spit tobacco was a safe alternative to cigarettes.  The young man later had parts of his tongue and jaw removed.

Spit tobacco, also known as smokeless tobacco, chew, plug, snuff, or dip, is a form of tobacco with a high concentration of nicotine that is chewed or sucked rather than smoked.  Harmful chemicals and carcinogens are absorbed directly into the cells of the user’s mouth and throat, putting him/her at a great risk of cancer.

Similar to the increased targeting of youth by cigarette companies, spit tobacco manufacturers also have youth in mind as they add child-friendly or “candy-like” flavors to their products, and advertise in magazines with high youth readership, like Sports Illustrated and Rolling Stone.

As more schools and public places go smoke-free, there is an increased need to pay careful attention to spit tobacco use, which is more discrete than cigarette use.  The Great American Spit-Out provides a perfect opportunity for schools and school districts to examine and update their school tobacco policy to include spit tobacco. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s School Health Index is an assessment and planning tool that can help school communities determine gaps in policy and practice and set priorities for change.

In addition, “Wyoming Through with Chew” has put out a brand new toolkit that includes ideas for activities, sample press releases, FAQ’s, talking points and other resources.  While not specifically policy-related, all of these resources can help educate communities on the need for policy change, and help them have a successful “Through with Chew Week” and Great American Spit-Out. 

For more information on tobacco use prevention through schools, visit NSBA’s School Health Programs website, or email schoolhealth@nsba.org.  Our website includes a “Tobacco Use Prevention 101” packet, web links to other helpful resources, and a database which provides background information, sample policies, and other useful resources.  For more information on tobacco marketing to youth, see the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ publication “Smokeless Tobacco and Kids.”