Should I keep snusing?

[heders]

heders, how much do you use per day and is this figure low or high compared to others in Sweden? How much does the average Swede that uses snus use per day?

Sorry I have so many questions :P

I use around 10 portions per day, combining strong portions and regular portions. When using only regular portions, I think I use a little bit more... not sure.

The average Swede, I would say, uses half a can of portions per day. It's pretty common among lös snus users to consume a can per day though - my uncle consumes two cans per day and smokes. Long term users almost exclusively use lös from what I've seen here in Sweden, and they have slowly increased the size of their prilla during the years to satisfy their craving; which is how they can go through one or two cans per day. Two cans per day is pretty extreme, but it's way more common than one would think.

Portion users have often, from my experience, not used snus for that long and have a lower consumption.

But 1/3 to 1/2 of a can of portions per day and 1/2 - 2 cans of loose per day I would say is considered average.

By the way, you don't really have to worry about snus being harmful. It's comparable to coffee. Of course it's better to not use it at all, but it's a million times better than smoking. The real negative effects of snus use is gum recession and the nicotine addiction. You have to choose wether it's worth being addicted or not. If you choose to be, then be happy for being addicted to one of the least harmful tobacco products.

Sorry I have so many questions :P

Not a problem at all. Keep on asking! I'm happy to help.

[Mikko]

Only time will tell then, I think a realistic long-term goal for me is to not snus while sleeping, not snus right when I wake up and not snus just before I go to bed. I have heard that people in Sweden consume more snus than most people on this forum, so the questions I have now are:

heders, how much do you use per day and is this figure low or high compared to others in Sweden? How much does the average Swede that uses snus use per day?

Sorry I have so many questions :P

[heders]

Oh and heders, thanks for the heads up, I guess it's inevitable then, might as well just come to terms when my consumption does increase. Another question though, will it keep increasing or will I reach a point where I stay at like maybe 8 portions/pris per day?

I don't think it's impossible to keep such a low consumption throughout ones life time, but you have to have an insane will power - and even those who has does not succeed. I have seen this myself a lot of times. Nicotine is a master at tricking you.

It's not a linear increase to the part where you are drinking pure nicotine, but it's an increase more than 3-10 portions a week, that's for sure. You will reach a point which satisfies and removes the withdrawals, because they will get more intense as your brain and body becomes adjusted to the drug. The longer your body has been used to nicotine; the longer you go without it, the crappier you feel, so it often ends with chain snusing to keep the nicotine levels on a steady level. That dose varies from person to person, but 8 portions/prillas per day I would say is the average level.

[Mikko]

F*** THE GOVERNMENT! (did I properly censor the curse word?) Sometimes I feel their sole purpose is to annoy and extort. And you have a point there lx, people need to stop being so stiff about health and enjoy themselves once in a while, I mean I'm a healthy guy but I also like to drink, snus, sit on my ass and play games and eat pizza. Honestly there should be a balance in everything and The Man shouldn't have so much influence on what we can and can't do.

Oh and heders, thanks for the heads up, I guess it's inevitable then, might as well just come to terms when my consumption does increase. Another question though, will it keep increasing or will I reach a point where I stay at like maybe 8 portions/pris per day?

[heders]

I guess I'll just try to keep my usage under control, ideally if I could stay at the 3-10 portions/pris per week like I am now that would be great.

That's a very good, and low nicotine dosage, which I admire you keeping, but I promise you, your consumption will increase during the years. Just something to be aware of.

I don't know how many friends and people I've met who has said that they've got the nicotine addiction under control because they have an extremely low consumption, but their addiction always reveals its' true colors later on, and the consumption very often increases. That's what nicotine does.

[lxskllr]

Ya know what my biggest problem with snus use is? Being exploited by the government, and financing their fraud, and control over the population. If anything were to get me to quit snus, that would be the most compelling argument. Health? Screw that. Life would suck if you really did everything that best for your body. As far as I'm concerned, snus is as safe as it needs to be for a happy life.

[Mikko]

I have to respect your decision for choosing snus over cigs. Just keep in mind that your 18 and nicotine will most likely be a lifelong addiction with no end in sight. I have quit nicotine for a year before and craved it every single day until I broke down and started using it again.

Thanks! It's definitely uncommon at my age, everyone has the "I'm young, I can worry about lung cancer later!" attitude, whereas in my case I'm quite health conscious and prefer to avoid harmful endeavours such as smoking or heavy drinking. At least during my 4 month break I didn't have any snus cravings, so it's good to see that it's less addicting than cigarettes, maybe due to the type of release of nicotine? I understand that this will be a lifelong commitment, but I also understand that snus will be the way of the future, with smoking in decline a smokeless tobacco addiction won't be uncommon. Even in the health care world I've heard of people telling me that a lot of residents or intern doctors will use dip to stay focused, I myself will be the odd one out with some General OP in my lip.

[GoVegan]

I have to respect your decision for choosing snus over cigs. Just keep in mind that your 18 and nicotine will most likely be a lifelong addiction with no end in sight. I have quit nicotine for a year before and craved it every single day until I broke down and started using it again.

[Mikko]

I guess I'll just try to keep my usage under control, ideally if I could stay at the 3-10 portions/pris per week like I am now that would be great. Although I havent had any snus since tuesday (wisdom teeth extractions) and I won't have any until my stitches out this coming tuesday, so far it's been fine with no snus, I can keep my stress under control without it but when an ex contacted me a few days ago, emotions started flowing and I had a minor anxiety attack, luckily it was nighttime so I just slept it off. As for Xanax I have tried it and it seems to impair my coordination, I ride a motorbike now so I can't have my coordination compromised. Plus dependence is an issue for Xanax, like all other benzodiazepines and honestly I'd rather have a nicotine addiction than a Xanax one.

[wa3zrm]

For the love of God man, stay away from the cigarettes at all costs! I was a smoker for 30+ years and now I have CAD to show for it! Snus was the ONLY thing to get and keep me off the cigarettes... nothing else worked for me. IMO, besides offering harm reduction, snus is far easier to quit than cigarettes. I can go for days on only one or two portions; I know, because I have done it.

Ideally, a nic free life is what you should shoot for. Like Whalen said, "I would quit... up to you, consider the costs. If you have to use something, then snus."

Stress is a part of everyday life... some days it is worse that others. The nic in snus and nasal snuff relieves stress and anxiety... and so does Xanax. The choice is yours. Some people on this forum have to use both. If you are able to beat stress and anxiety without the use of nic or drugs, then go for it.

Good luck.

[Mikko]

I can see someone smoking a cigar for taste but not cigs. They are the most foul tasting thing on earth. Sounds like to me you have an addictive personality so if you are going to do something let it be snus. And don't feel bad or beat yourself up for doing it.

I guess Americans won't understand because they have FSC, but in Hong Kong my favourite cigarette was Dunhill, no additives so it tasted like the cigars I was used to. As for an addictive personality I wouldn't say so, more so a curious personality which would draw me back into smoking. I've taken breaks anywhere from 1-4months from all tobacco with no craving effects. But thats not to say I won't get addicted. I know for sure I'll be addicted to snus soon which is why I ask this question now. At the moment I'm just snusing to keep my mind off smoking, basically I'm staying ahead of the game, I switched to snus before I got to the inhaling stage because for me inhaling would be detrimental to my running performance (I run cross country on my school team) so I thought to myself "I might be safe now, not inhaling and such but it won't be long before I start to inhale so might as well switch to a safer product". But to answer the rest of you guys' posts, yes I do enjoy snus very much, it's even more enjoyable than the Cohibas I used to smoke, the complex flavours and essences just make it a very pleasurable experience and the fact that it's not really a 'guilty pleasure' makes it even better! As good as it is I also don't endorse it to my non-tobacco using friends, I also agree that if you are not addicted there is no reason to start and if you have no reason to use nicotine you shouldn't start either. But the fact that it regulates my stress, makes me happy when I'm sad, tastes great and controls my anxiety problems make me want to stick with using it.

[GoVegan]

When I started smoking cigarettes, I never inhaled. I liked the taste. I'm not sure why I started inhaling them, but it was one of the worse decisions I've made in life :^/

I started playing with cigs around age 12 or 13. Me and my friends would take one or two from our parents pack and then play with them after school. They were disgusting at first but I have to say I was hooked by age 15.

[Mdisch]

None of us in here would openly endorse tobacco usage, and nor would I.
But if you consider quitting, you might aswell - unless you enjoy it as much as most of us do. Personally I hardly see any reason to quit snus usage, apart from the financial aspects of it. But it's a constant and a pleasure in life, so I won't stop.

Nonetheless, it is entirely personal.

[lxskllr]

I can see someone smoking a cigar for taste but not cigs. They are the most foul tasting thing on earth. Sounds like to me you have an addictive personality so if you are going to do something let it be snus. And don't feel bad or beat yourself up for doing it.

When I started smoking cigarettes, I never inhaled. I liked the taste. I'm not sure why I started inhaling them, but it was one of the worse decisions I've made in life :^/

[heders]

I would also quit, if you really feel like you can. As whalen says though; snuff might be an option. Nicotine has it's beneficial effects for sure, but the question you've got to ask yourself is if it's worth it.

I snus to keep me from smoking, as I quit smoking using snus, as almost everyone else here. I enjoy snus, but if I could go back in time, I never would have smoked that first cigarette that got me in to this addiction.

Nicotine aids concentration, but doesn't really relax you. Nicotine is a very strong stimulant, and the main reason you feel relaxed after putting a snus under your lip is because it removes the withdrawal symptoms.