The Great American Spit Out is Thursday, February 18

February 18, 2010 – A new report based on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that adolescents perceive the risk involved in smoking cigarettes to be greater than that of other substances such as alcohol or marijuana.  If this high perception of risk leads to a decrease in smoking initiation, it may reflect positive effects of tobacco prevention efforts.  However, the study does not address spit tobacco, which is commonly misunderstood to be a safe alternative to cigarettes. 

In reality, 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.

Spit tobacco is an easily concealed method of tobacco use, and is considered ideal for consumption in schools by students trying to hide their tobacco use from adults.  Tobacco industry tactics are also cause for concern as spit tobacco manufacturers 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, as it is much more discrete than cigarette use.  The Great American Spit Out, modeled after the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, provides an opportunity to encourage spit-tobacco users to quit and for schools and communities to examine what is being done to keep kids 100% tobacco-free.

The Department of Defense’s Great American Spit Out page provides a wide range of resources to help youth quit as well as free, customizable materials for promoting awareness about spit tobacco, as a part of their larger Quit Tobacco – Make Everyone Proud campaign. 

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.