Stopping Smokeless Tobacco Use: A Call to Action

In the United States, single smokeless tobacco use continues to increase in conjunction with the dual use of smokeless tobacco and other nicotine products. Problematically, much of the tobacco prevention literature and funding inundates tobacco users with smoking tobacco information while neglecting to provide them any information about smokeless tobacco. Meanwhile, American tobacco companies continually market new and dissolvable tobacco products targeted at non-smokers. New data suggests that smokeless tobacco use is, also, increasing in West Virginia and, in order to address this increased use, the West Virginia Extension Service recently partnered with the Division of Tobacco Prevention in the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to develop a comprehensive spit tobacco curriculum for West Virginia students between third and sixth grade. This article details the development and assessment of the spit tobacco prevention curriculum and the resulting report from the initial pilot of the program. The curriculum was piloted across six counties with the participation of schools, after-school programs and 4-H clubs. After implementation, survey results demonstrate that youth have increased awareness of the health effects of smokeless tobacco. Throughout the article, we explore West Virginia's Cooperative Extension Service's response to this emerging public health issue and release a call to action for the National Cooperative Extension Services to join us in spit tobacco prevention.

Tobacco Road

This chapter focuses on the history of tobacco use in Major League Baseball (MLB). It begins with the story of Bill Tuttle, who chewed tobacco anywhere from ten to twelve hours a day for more than forty years and eventually developed oral cancer. A seemingly endless series of operations left Tuttle badly disfigured. In the spring of 1996, Tuttle, now head of the National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP), spearheaded a crusade to warn Major Leaguers about the dangers of smokeless tobacco. This chapter examines baseball's historical connection to the tobacco industry, first by tracing the beginnings of marketing tobacco through baseball. It then discusses the debate that arose in the late 1950s and early 1960s over athletic endorsements of tobacco products due to evidence linking smoking with carcinogenic effects. It also considers how the tobacco industry latched onto the notion, supported by dubious medical evidence, that smokeless tobacco was a safe alternative to cigarettes. Finally, it reflects on how the fight over tobacco products in baseball played out at the end of the twentieth century.

Gutka Chewing (Spit Tobacco): A Common Cause for Teeth Discoloration in India

ABSTRACT Gutka has been in use for decades in many parts of the world particularly in the Asian region. The potential to persuade excitation and delight have made it very tempting among its users. The staining effect; however, both extrinsically and particularly intrinsically have not been thoroughly understood. This is a case report of a 40-year-old Indian male who presented to the department of periodontology, complaining of generalized discoloration. Subsequent examination and history revealed that the discoloration was due to chronic use of gutka. How to cite this article Saini R. Gutka Chewing (Spit Tobacco): A Common Cause for Teeth Discoloration in India. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2014;3(1):57-58.

Coaches' knowledge and awareness of spit tobacco use among youth athletes: results of a 2009 Ontario survey

Introduction Public health professionals have become concerned that spit tobacco (ST) use among athletes is increasing. However, little is known about the issue in Canada, particularly among youth. Methods The Not to Kids Coalition and the Coaches Association of Ontario surveyed coaches regarding ST knowledge and awareness and their perceived roles as coaches in influencing ST use among their athletes. Surveys were distributed electronically to individuals who coached male and female youth aged 9 to 18 years in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and track and field, in Ontario. Results Almost all of the surveyed coaches responded correctly to questions about the health effects of ST use, and about 80% of respondents answered correctly to the question about legislation associated with ST and youth. Conclusion Most coaches are interested in receiving information about ST, particularly the health effects of ST use and how to prevent ST use among athletes. Multiple formats should be used to provide information to coaches, including both electronic and hard copy materials.