Dipping tobacco

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Dipping tobacco, traditionally referred to as moist snuff, is a type of finely ground or shredded, moistened smokeless tobacco product. It is commonly and idiomatically known by various terms—most often as dip and sometimes as rub. It is used by placing a lump or "dip" of tobacco between the lip and the gum. The act of using it is called dipping, packing or more specifically packing a lip, or packing a lipper. Dip is colloquially called "chew", "snuff", "chaw", "daps", "baccer", "spit tobacco", or "mouth tobacco", among other terms; because of this, it is sometimes confused with other tobacco products—namely chewing tobacco or nasal/dry snuff.

Dipping tobacco is often referred to as smokeless tobacco. However, this may be a misnomer, as the phrase is something of an umbrella term that could refer to any type of tobacco product that does not require smoking in order for it to be used.

History

Four different cans (or tins) of dipping tobacco (from bottom left, clockwise): Skoal straight, Skoal long cut mint, Copenhagen straight, and Copenhagen long cut.

A can of Copenhagen brand American dipping tobacco.

Dipping tobacco was initially introduced as a variation of the historically Swedish oral tobacco, snus, that was brought to the United States by Swedish immigrants in the early 19th century. In modern times, it is still largely relegated to the United States, where moist snuff is most popular among the blue-collar working class and especially in the Southern and Midwestern United States. It is also widely used in certain parts of Canada.

Before opening the can/tin of tobacco, users typically "pack" the tin, similar to how cigarette smokers pack a pack of cigarettes. This is done by placing one's thumb and index finger on the top and bottom of the tin, nd then quickly turning the tin and flicking the wrist so that one's index finger taps the top of the tin.

Unlike snus, which is most often placed between the upper lip and gum, dip users or "dippers" tend to use the lower. Dipping in the upper lip is unusual, though when done, it is colloquially termed an "upper decker" or "top lip dip".^{[citation needed]} The dip rests on the inside lining of the mouth for a period depending upon the user's preference—often 10 to 30 minutes. Nicotine and other alkaloids found in tobacco are absorbed sublabially by the inferior or superior labial arteries. Buccal and sublingual absorption may also occur.

Unlike snus, dip often causes the user to produce excess saliva during the act of dipping. This is typically expectorated onto the ground or in a container, because swallowing the saliva-tobacco mixture can cause irritation to the esophagus and induce nausea and vomiting. Smokeless tobacco is sometimes used in the workplace by employees, especially if the employer does not provide many cigarette breaks or if the employee is consistently using both hands during work (which doesn't provide opportunities for cigarette smoking). Smokeless tobacco is popular in many industrial areas where there is a safety risk in having an open flame, such as oil rigs or refineries.

Copenhagen, a brand of dipping tobacco manufactured by the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, has at times been an additive of choice for native Alaskans when making Blackbull or Iqmik (a traditional type of chewing tobacco product) with punk ash. As such, it reduces the amount of tobacco needed to receive a nicotine "buzz" and substantially increases the psychoactive effects they receive from its use.

Etymology and terminology

Dipping tobacco was first popularized and marketed as moist snuff in the 1800s. The term "snuff" in this context is an English cognate of the aforementioned "snus", from Swedish. Dipping tobacco's Scandinavian roots impart a noticeable legacy on modern American brands such as Copenhagen (the capital city of Denmark) and Skoal (referring to the interlinguistic term skål, which in Norwegian, Danish and Swedish roughly translates to either "cheers", implying a toast, or "bowl").

Cut sizes

The difference between cut sizes are the length of the strands of tobacco.

• Extra Long Cuts are a little bit longer than long cut and sits very comfortably in the mouth
• Long cuts are easiest to pack and keep comfortably in the mouth.
• Mid cuts are comparable to small granules at about 1 mm cubed.
• Fine cuts/snuffs are slightly larger than sand or coffee grounds.
• Pouches hold fine cut or snuff tobacco in a small, teabag-like pouch. They are less messy because the tobacco won't fall out of one's fingers and mouth. Dipping tobacco in pouches resemble snus "portions", but the difference between these two products lies in the way the tobacco is processed. Dipping tobacco (including pouched products) undergoes fermentation, whereas tobacco in snus is pasteurized.
• Ready Cut is a cut produced only by Skoal (introduced in 2012) which consists of a compressed cube of long cut. As it gets moist from saliva in the mouth, it automatically conforms to your mouth.

Health issues

An example of a how dipping tobacco is often placed in the mouth.

Effects

Dipping tobacco, like other tobacco products, contains nicotine, a stimulant and a relaxant. Effects include increased heart rate, an increase in systolic blood pressure, and an increase in adrenaline.

Long-term effects

Dipping tobacco can cause fatal oral cancers and tooth loss. Some cancers include the following: Tongue cancer, lip cancer, cheek cancer, gum cancer, throat cancer, and cancer in the roof and floor of the mouth. In some cases it has been known to cause cancer within only a few years of use. Gruen Von Behrens, now a public speaker against the product, started using dipping tobacco at age 13 only to be diagnosed with mouth cancer at 17. He started noticing signs of cancer at age 16. However, more recent analysis has suggested that the oral cancer risk is not as high as previously believed.

Cardiovascular effects

Studies are inconclusive as to how significantly smokeless tobacco affects users' cardiovascular systems, but it has been studied that it may have more nicotine than cigarettes. One study states that, "Although the evidence is not conclusive, the adverse cardiovascular effects of smokeless tobacco use are less than those caused by smoking but are more than those found in non-users." Other studies also indicate that smokeless tobacco related cardiovascular risks are lower than that of smoked tobacco. One study states that smokeless tobacco use has a "positive effect on cardiovascular risk factors in young physically fit men." However, it is important to note that one Indian study from the state of Rajasthan states, "There is a significantly greater prevalence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors [sic] obesity, resting tachycardia, hypertension, high total and LDL cholesterol, and low HDL cholesterol, and electrocardiographic changes in tobacco users, chewing or smoking, as compared-to tobacco non-users. Chewing tobacco is associated with similar cardiovascular risk as smoking." This finding may bear on the possibility that smokeless tobacco in India is produced differently than in Western countries.

Due to contrasting results in studies, many conclude that further research should be done on the cardiovascular risks of smokeless tobacco.

Addiction potential

Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, which is the primary reinforcing agent.

According to European Union policy, Scandinavian or some American smokeless tobaccos (specifically snus) are at least 90% less hazardous than cigarette smoking. However, the habit is still addictive.

Taxation and restriction of smoking is causing more smokeless tobacco use as "substitution." There are active public health debates regarding risk-reduction for smokers and the reconsideration of smokeless tobacco risks. "...There is a substantial body of informed and independent opinion that sees the value of harm reduction strategies based on smokeless tobacco." Most of these studies are supported by the makers of smokeless tobacco.^{[citation needed]}

Additives

There are few reports confirming what additives smokeless tobacco contains, and it is very likely that brands vary in the kinds and amounts of additives used. There is a widespread urban myth that fiberglass is added to smokeless tobacco to increase the efficiency of nicotine absorption. Although small, glass-like particles can be seen in snus, this may be due to the formation of salt crystals.

The addition of glass to dipping tobacco would not be beneficial for increasing nicotine delivery, as bleeding and inflammation would be likely to reduce the uptake of nicotine. The amount of nicotine absorbed can be controlled by different cutting of the tobacco, increasing the nicotine concentration and raising the pH of the tobacco by adding various salts. An alkaline pH causes more nicotine to be absorbed, especially the free, unprotonated form, but is irritating to the mucosa. Nicotine itself can also irritate the mucosa.

List of brands

Common brands

• Copenhagen - Snuff (Fine Cut Natural), Natural (Long Cut and Extra Long Cut), Straight, Wintergreen, Southern Blend, Mint, Smooth Hickory*, Whiskey Blend*, Straight*, Black (Dscontinued)
• Skoal - Wintergreen (Long Cut, Fine Cut, Ready Cut and Pouches), Mint (Long Cut, Ready Cut and Bandits), Straight (Long Cut, Ready Cut and Pouches), Apple, Cherry, Berry, Citrus, Peach, Spearmint, Rich Blend (Long Cut and Pouches), Xtra Crisp (Long Cut and Pouches), Xtra Mint (Long Cut and Pouches), Xtra Wintergreen (Long Cut and Pouches), Vanilla (Dscontinued)
• Red Seal - Natural (Fine Cut and Long Cut), Wintergreen (Fine Cut and Long Cut), Mint, Straight
• Husky - Straight, Natural, Mint, Wintergreen
• Timber Wolf - Natural, Straight, Cool Wintergreen, Wintergreen, Apple, Mint, Peach
• Kayak - Apple, Peach, Mint, Grape, Straight, Wintergreen
• Longhorn - Mint, Straight, Wintergreen
• Red Man - Straight, Natural, and Wintergreen
• Stoker's - Mint, Wintergreen, Natural, Straight
• Grizzly - Snuff (Fine Cut and Pouches), Long Cut 1900, Natural (Extra Long Cut and Fine Cut), Mint (Long Cut and Pouches), Straight (Long Cut and Pouches), Wintergreen (Long Cut, Fine Cut, and Pouches)
• Kodiak - Wintergreen, Mint (formerly Ice), and Straight

* Marketed under "Cope", a brand of Copenhagen
- Unspecified flavours are Long Cut

Uncommon brands

the most uncommon brands are:

• Warrior
• Rene
• Redwood
• Silver Creek
• Cooper
• Cougar
• Gold River
• Tomahawk
• Silverado
• Rooster
• Happy Days
• Dukes
• Revved Up Energy Dip
• Bobcat
• Predator
• Bruton
• Snepps
• Tahoe
• Marlboro
• Camel
• Red Rooster Tobacco
• Stokers (Tubs of dip)
• Hawken
• Klondike
• Renegades

Legality

Based on studies at the time was believed to be a strong association with cancer and a fairly low usage outside of North America and several countries have banned the sale (and in some cases the import) of dipping tobacco. Sale of dipping tobacco was banned in South Australia in 1986 and across the country in 1991 and in most of the EU nations in 1992. Sweden was exempt from this ban because of the traditionally high usage of snus in that country.

In the USA it is illegal to sell dip to persons under the age of 18 (except in Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey, Utah, and the Counties of Suffolk County, Onondaga and Nassau in New York State where the age requirement is 19).

Companies are now required to place very large warning labels that comprise at least 20 percent of all advertisements and 30 percent of two principal display panels on each tin.

Taxation

In the United States, the federal government taxes dipping tobacco at $0.5033 per pound or $0.0315 per ounce, tin or pouch. Excise taxes are also levied at the state level (Pennsylvania being the only exception), and in some instances, at the local level. Sales tax is also applied to the full retail price of dipping tobacco in most jurisdictions. The price of a tin of tobacco can range anywhere from one dollar per tin to a little bit more than five dollars. A roll of chew, which is five tins, can be around six dollars; a sleeve, which is ten tins, can be around nine or ten dollars. This depends on the type and brand of the chew.

See also

• Herbal dipping tobacco
• Naswar
• Smoking cessation
• Snus
• Tobacco industry
• Tobacco products

References

Hhjnbh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF9fia4B6lE

External links

• Smokeout: Not as easy as ABC - Commentary - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
• Effect of smokeless tobacco (snus) on smoking and public health in Sweden
• Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers. By Brad Rodu and William T. Godshall, published in December 2006 in Harm Reduction Journal.
• SnusOn Community - The world's largest forum community centered around Swedish snus and smokeless tobacco. Contains reviews,tutorials, information and discussions.
• Snus Authority - A blog dedicated to snus, snuff, and other forms of smokeless tobacco.
• Snus Central - A popular news and information site on smokeless tobacco.