What *is* bad about snus?

[Missnus]

This is some very interesting information. It's very reassuring. I don't know that I would have picked up cigarettes again if I didn't have the snus, but it is good to have other options for tobacco. Am I in the minority for just picking up snus for liking it and not to quit smoking?

[raptor]

Am I in the minority for just picking up snus for liking it and not to quit smoking?

I was a very casual smoker previously before I picked up snus. I don't use snus that often now, I've been on a bit of a snuff kick lately and I have too many cigars around. Ironically I moved from the safest form of tobacco to two more harmful ones (well, snuff is really about the same a snus on the safeness scale).

[WickedKitchen]

I didn't use snus to quit smoking.

I used it to quit dip. I was going to quit dip anyways (that's my story and I'm stickin' to it) 'cos it was tearing my mouth apart. I was to the point where I couldn't enjoy it at all. I made an order and got some General and Ettan, both OPs. I loved it from the beginning. I quit cigs cold turkey after a pack-a-day for 15 years and I knew I could do it with dip too. I lasted six months and bought some dip 'cos I was bored with long stints just sitting in my car for work...not 'cos I needed or wanted nicotine, I wanted an oral fixation again. Snus is cheaper, tastes better, no spitting, lasts longer, easier to regulate, etc. It does raise blood pressure a little though. This could be a player in internal issues later on in life but I'm not sure how much. It's also a vasoconstrictor, well the nicotine is. This can aggravate circulation problems such as Raynaud's disease. I have that though it's a very mild case. I do notice sometimes in the winter my hands are colder than normal when snusing. I think I counteract these small negative effects with diet and exercise but only time will truly tell.

[snusjus]

I will try to remain from an objective viewpoint, not overstating or understating facts. Here are possible adverse health reactions from using snus:

- Leukoplakia (personal experience)
- Increased severity of heart attacks (although snus does not increase the likelihood of a heart attack occurring)
- Increase in blood pressure
- Gum disease, if oral hygiene is very poor
- Impotency (although much less likely compared to cigarettes)
- Doubled risk of pancreatic cancer (this is a very rare form of cancer, so doubling the chances is not of major concern)
- Oral cancer (there has only been one reported case of oral cancer caused by snus. Although this was probably coincidental, it should still be accounted for, even though the risk is extremely low)
- Decreased birth weight and increased risk of miscarriage in pregnant women (less so than smoking)

So yes, snus carries health consequences, but when compared to smoking, drinking alcohol, or being overweight, the health risks are negligible.

[f. bandersnatch]

I think the main reason people here warn against snus is because we are all addicts, and that is what addicts do. 14 year old boys are like "I don't give shit, this is awesome!" and addicts are like "trust me, it gets old". I can't really imagine a moderately conscious addict advising non-addicts to become addicted. And yes, I meant 'conscious', not 'conscientious'.

[lxskllr]

Am I in the minority for just picking up snus for liking it and not to quit smoking?

I picked up snus just because I liked it. I had no intention of quitting smoking, but it just kind of happened. I got to the point where I was only smoking cause it was what I was used to. I figured that was dumb, so I quit. I smoke a couple of cigarettes a week due to a generous gift of a forum member a couple xmases ago(where ya at Mojo?), but I don't have to. Once I go through that tobacco, I'll probably get more, but it'll be a few months or more before I get around to it.

I think the main reason people here warn against snus is because we are all addicts, and that is what addicts do. 14 year old boys are like "I don't give shit, this is awesome!" and addicts are like "trust me, it gets old". I can't really imagine a moderately conscious addict advising non-addicts to become addicted. And yes, I meant 'conscious', not 'conscientious'.

I dunno. I figure by the time you're 15 or so, you know what's up. I encourage everyone to do what makes them happy, as long as they're informed, and cause no harm to others. Whether that be snus, cigarettes, or opium.

[f. bandersnatch]

Oh lxskllr, you kill me.

[lxskllr]

:^)

Hmm... Have we always had a 5 character message minimum? I thought it was 3 characters :^/

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

I'm an addict so I have to say, if you are not addicted to nicotine don't use it. Maybe you got lucky with your other quits so why push it. Everything in moderation yes but there is a risk of addiction. If that happens, yeah it's not so harmful, but don't forget the money it costs to feed a habit. It's cheaper than cigs so far but that could change and a habit could cost quite a bit (at least mine always do).

You could just spend that money on some other new hobby like bowling

[dreed2]

I think the main reason people here warn against snus is because we are all addicts, and that is what addicts do. 14 year old boys are like "I don't give shit, this is awesome!" and addicts are like "trust me, it gets old". I can't really imagine a moderately conscious addict advising non-addicts to become addicted. And yes, I meant 'conscious', not 'conscientious'.

I agree. For those who are hopelessly addicted, snus is harm reduction. For those who aren't addicted, stay free of it.

[Missnus]

I don't know, the being addicted doesn't really bother me. Maybe it's different for some. I smoked for 5 years before, that didn't particularly bother me. Maybe it's when you've been addicted to something for a decade or more. Maybe there's something I don't notice.

[tom502]

I know I recently quit oral tobacco, and I am having some craves. I'm on the nasal snuff and e-cig pretty hard today, and I am stuffing myself with food.

[pinklungs]

I managed to stay off nicotine (chew and cigs) for 6 weeks over this past summer.......I put on 13 pounds and was generally miserable with un-relenting cravings. Now, using Swedish snus, I'm back to a Dr.-approved body mass index and am very 'regular'. I'm no 14yr. old boy but "this IS awesome".

[LincolnSnuff]

I started on snus because I heard about it on a nasal snuff forum. I took the plunge into nasal snuff about a year and a half ago as a desperate means to quit smoking. I had half-heartedly tried cold turkey several times, and went out and paid for patches but it never lasted longer than a week. Once the snuff arrived, I was able to switch habits relatively quickly. The problem with nasal snuff is its non-discreet nature. Because of the lack of general knowledge in the US, I never felt comfortable taking a pinch in public and found myself ducking into the restroom like an addict of some sort. The other issue was that I still went through smoking phases of a week to a month when I would relapse and forget about the snuff.

Enter snus. I found this website, did some research, and recalled my love of dip from back in the day. Since I put in my first prilla, there has been no looking back. I have absolutely no cravings for cigarettes and don't feel awful about myself if I decide to smoke one with friends on occasion. I understand now that I never had a smoking addiction, but I've always had a nicotine addiction. I think the bottom line is that some of us reach to nicotine to offset minor chemical imbalances (depression, ADD, bi-polar, etc.) and it does a damn good job improving quality of life. If you search the threads, there has been much discussion about how schizophrenics usually chain-smoke because nicotine is a medicine for them. I have not been diagnosed with any of these conditions but nicotine does have a therapeutic quality for me. Thus I want to continue using nicotine, but in the safest, most satisfying way possible - right now, that is snus.

I agree with the sentiments of others that if you do not need nicotine, stay away. I think this applies to every drug. You have to weigh the negative consequences of addiction, to the positive aspects for you. Snus has a lot more qualities in the "Pros" column than in the "Cons" column in my situation. Now if I were considering starting a cocaine habit, the "Cons" would definitely outweigh the "Pros." This is why I do not use cocaine.

If addiction, the cost, gum recession, and a doubled chance of pancreatic cancer doesn't bother you, then I say, "snuson."

[visiON]

LincolnSnuff if you have ADD cocaine might be actually good for you :\