The Pros and Cons of Smokeless Tobacco Products

With cigarette sales falling, the smoking industry is going smokeless. Companies like R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris are introducing new smokeless tobacco products that are nothing like your granddaddy's messy chew or dip.

The companies say these new products - one is called "snus" - help tide smokers over when they go to places where they can't light up any more because of smoking bans, like restaurants and offices.

Since the bans started going into effect 25 years ago, more and more people have given up cigarettes. Today, the smoking rate is half what it was 40 years ago.

And so the companies are investing heavily in developing smokeless, and in changing its image from hillbilly to hip.

Full Segment: Going Smokeless
Web Extra: Quitting Smoking -
The Patch, Gum of Snus?

Web Extra: Tobacco and Cigarettes
Web Extra: Quitting Cigarettes
with Smokeless Tobacco

Think smokeless tobacco, and you probably conjure up something distinctly unappealing: a bulging mouthful of wet, brown goo that is smelly and spitty, brown and drooly.

Not anymore: now there's snus.

"There's no spitting or anything so no one knows you're doing it," Justin Billings, who uses snus, told "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl.

When he uses it, Billings tucks it - a tiny tea bag-like pouch filled with tobacco - discretely under his upper lip. There's no lump in his cheek, and no juice.

He uses snus in class and told Stahl it's great. "I can be in class and instead of looking like, 'Oh, there's 40 minutes left in this class. I just want a cigarette,' I can put the snus in and continue to pay attention and don't have to focus on the tobacco craving."

Snus curbs the craving as the nicotine absorbs into his gums.

Billings is 31, a musician and college student in Los Angeles, who has smoked since he was 16.

"Kind of grassy," Stahl remarked taking a whiff of snus.

Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds have been selling their brands of Marlboro and Camel snus for about a year. At $4 a can, about half what a pack of cigarettes usually costs, the companies say sales show snus is catching on.

"I have a cigarette when I get up in the morning," Billings told Stahl.

He used to dread being stuck someplace where he couldn't feed his habit. Now he's buzzed on nicotine practically 24/7. As he heads off to the gym, he pops in a snus.

"I'll put the snus in. And instead of walking, I can jog to the gym because I'm not carrying a cigarette. You can't jog carrying a cigarette," Billings said. "I jog with the snus in."

And at the gym, he "snusses" while he's working out. "And I'd feel really good and healthy and in shape," he told Stahl.

Later at school, he lights up before class and uses snus during class. At night there's more "snussing" when he's out with friends at a bar. And unbeknownst to Stahl, he was snussing throughout the interview at a smoke-free restaurant. All in all, he uses about 10 pouches of snus and 20 cigarettes a day.

In the business, Billings they consider him a dual user. "Sometimes I have a snus in and I'll smoke," he told Stahl.

Asked why he'd do that, Billings replied by saying, "You seem disappointed in me?"

"I am," she replied, laughing. "Because I think you're doubling the harm."

"But I don't understand snus to be that bad," he argued.

Asked if he has a feeling that snus is not harmful, Billings said, "I've done as much as read the Wikipedia on snus. What little I know is it's better for you than smoking by quite a bit."

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[britdallas]

'American Snus' is just vile compared to the Swedish Brands. Camel and Marlboro Snus purchased in the USA has a low Nicotine content and for good reason. They want smokers to become dual users. Thats more money for them and more tax $ for Uncle Sam. If the State and the Fed want to regulate where and when you can use tobacco products including snus and smoking they should just make it illegal. We all know they won't do that though it would cost them too much money in lost tax revenue.

As a former smoker and now Swedish Snus user I am already feeling the benefits. My skin has gotten better, My breathing improved and I don't smell like and old ashtray anymore. The Snus is 98% better for me than Smoking and probably no greater than eating a rare steak. I can enjoy Nicotine in the comfort of my surroundings without hurting anyone else.

If the American brands started to produce better quality Snus and the health industry started to promote Harm Reduction techniques we would all be much better off, after all isn't a Methodone treatment harm reduction for Heroin addicts?

I really wish people would stop harping on about how much smokers cost the health industry. What about obesity, Alcohol? I suppose thats not costing anyone anything is it? Thats the typical anti tobacco crowd....the same people i used to hate while a smoker. The kind of poeple that when a smoker passes by the do that fake cough and show a face of disgust. I am not a fan of Fat people, infact smotimes I am appalled when I see one of them waddle up to line at a burger joint. But what I don't do it show a face of disgust and gesture that perhaps they should order the salad. Thats just rude.

Snus is the future.......the sad thing is Swedes knew that 200 years ago and we are only now catching on.

[gary4books]

We should do some research to see how much of the health effects are from combustion and how much are from nicotine. It may be that nicotine has some benefits when not burned. That would give us a market for this product and less health problems. The nightmare may well be smoking and that may include other products currently illegal. Another factor may be genetic screening to see if anyone is immune from the problems of smoking.

[omotiverat]

I just have to say, i live in Sweden, i started smoking when i was 13 years old, i'm 19 now, so I've been smoking for 6 years, i know that might not be for that long but long enough to develop an addiction. I recently stopped smoking and started to use snus and it's great, i don't have to worry about harming other people around me with second hand smoking (not that i cared that much but it's still a good thing.) I can get my "fix" anytime i want ( except some classes in school where our teacher wont allow it ) i don't have to think about my lungs. and i don't have to smell bad! the downside is that you might get some, snus residue (if i can call it that?) on my teeth, but it's easily brushed away, and it depends on what kind of snus you use, if you snus white portion it doesn't affect my teeth that much. and the best thing about it that it's a smaller chance for you to get holes in your teeth, cause the snus makes your saliva Basic instead of sour! So i think it's a great substitute for smoking! plus it's cheaper to buy in stores! if you got any questions about using snus feel free to ask me questions on my MSN ( sry dont use AOL in sweden ) on [e-mail]!

[Slope7]

How many of you anti-tobacco people risk your lives? Do you talk on your cell phone while driving? Do you drink soda? Do you use pesticides in and around your house? The point I am trying to make is that this is all about choices and risk management. Let us make our own choices on how we manage risk. I agree that cigarette smoking can be intrusive, fine. I will not smoke near you so it doesn't bother you. However, Snus is a personal choice that does not intrude on others. Let it be! Let me be! Please stop the anti-tobacco discussion and go focus on more important things. If you can't stop, at least get educated. How many of you anti-tobacco people have actually read the EPA report on the effects of cigarettes? How many of you have conducted research on all tobacco products? If a loved one chose to use tobacco, which would you prefer they use? Learn, think, then speak!

[altcigs]

I have been reporting on the smokeless industry for the past months and have researched every news worthy and not so news worthy references. One of the comments brought forth the subject of the e-cig most of these smokeless cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products are nothing more than nicotine delivery devices that have had no or minimum testing that the FDA has placed on cessation devices.

The real problem is that nicotine is an addictive substance and therefore should be controlled just like any drug. The tobacco industry lobbyists spend an enormous amount of money to lobby the politicians to turn a blind eye.

No cigarette is the best cigarette.

[rf35]

Odd that I have never seen any discussion on the use of e-cigarettes. I spoke to my doctor and he was positively giddy when I told him I had switched to e-cigarettes. There's no tobacco in these at all and they come in various nicotine levels including nicotine-free. There is no smoke, only flavored vapor that has no particulates. There is no second-hand smoke; again, just an odorless vapor is exhaled. I can use them anywhere, even on airplanes. The cartridges are far cheaper than cigarettes, too. Definitely a healthier alternative to tobacco.

[watkinsjr2000]

There is no safe level of or way to use tobacco products. People who think they can use this stuff and have no health risks associated with it are deluding themselves.Doing this is just another bad way to commit suicide.

[rickcharles606]

Comments like this one dumb down the public. Swedish snus is 98% safer than smoking cigarettes, and that IS a scientific fact. Now that does not mean it's without risk, that's exactly why we say "harm reduction" and not "harmless".

That being said, a cup of French roast coffee, or a piece of grilled meat have more harmful ingredients or carcinogens in them than snus. My suggestion is that you educate yourself, so that those that you love and/or care about aren't led astray.

Quitting smoking is a daunting task and Swedish snus made it easy for me and millions of others that have tried it. It can save the life of someone you love.

Would you rather a smoker try to quit, fail, and then ultimately fail. Or would you rather them use a product that has proven to NOT cause cancer, and quit altogether.

The amazing part for me, is the anti smoking crowd has ******* and moaned for years and year about second hand smoke, lung cancer and other tobacco related illness, and now that there is a product out there that doesn't cause any of this...they hate it too.

Just proves that they aren't really concerned with "saving lives" or "saving the children", but rather the government grants they receive to form these organizations.

I agree that smoking is very hazardous to your health and people should quit, but the reality of it is that most people are addicted to nicotine. It's very difficult to quit, if you've never been addicted to nicotine, you should shut the hell up because you don'tknow and you don't have a dog in this fight.

Having Swedish snus has allowed me to stop smoking and has enabled me to live a far healthier lifestyle, and I'm going to live a lot longer to enjoy my wife and five children.

[TVO1CITW]

I quit smoking and dipping when I was 26 and vowed never to do it again. Now I am weakening at 54. I think I will start again when I am 70 because I liked it so much.

[rickcharles606]

I smoked 2.5 packs/day of Camel Light Wides for 20 years, and for the last 10 years of my smoking life...I was trying to quit. I've tried it all, nicotine gum, the patch, hypnosis, herbal supplements, you name it and I've tried it. None of them worked. One day I walked into a store to purchase a pack of smokes, and I saw an advertisement for Camel SNUS. Not knowing what it was, I asked the cashier and he wasn't much help, so of course I went home and looked it up on the net. Much to my amazement, there was this entire world of snus out there.

I read for hours and hours about how this product was 98% safer than smoking, and how it was far superior to any of the American snus brands. I mean, hey the Swedes invented this stuff over 200 yrs ago, they know how to do it. I read clinical study after clinical study and the result was always the same. Swedish snus has the lowest levels of TSNA's (tobacco specific nitrosamines), which are the carcinogens found in tobacco. There are more TSNA's in bacon than in pasteurized Swedish snus and I eat bacon, so why not try this to quit smoking.

Swedish snus is steam pasteurized, which kills the TSNA's, while American dip and most other moist tobaccos and even cigarette tobacco isn't. American tobacco, dip, chew and cigarette tobacco is fermented which does NOT kill the TSNA's. Which is the reason American smokeless companies rotate their stock so quickly in the the stores...the TSNA levels continue to grow to unhealthy levels after a certain amount of time. Remember, TSNA's are what cause cancer in tobacco users.

I made an order from Sweden, and from the very first portion (pouch)of Swedish snus until now I haven't smoked. That was over a year ago too, and for you smokers out there...I can't tell you how easy it was to put the smokes down. The real story here is why haven't the American companies come out with something like this sooner?? MONEY, and money is also the reason they make an inferior snus. It has far too little nicotine in it to keep one from craving. Side note, the kid in the show tonight was using Swedish snus, BUT he was using mini portions which are much smaller and have less nicotine in them. For someone to quit smoking, they have to use regular sized portions and extra strong Swedish snus to quell the cravings. The fact that Swedish snus comes in different strengths and over 100 flavors and styles is yet another point of it's superiority. You can even buy Swedish snus with NO nicotine or tobacco at all. Someone that wanted to get off nicotine altogether, could use a step down program.

There are 45 million smokers in the U.S, and how many of them would like to quit...I'll bet at least a third, easily. This is a product that can and will help them become healthier Americans. The FDA needs to grant this product MRT (Modified Risk Tobacco) status so that Swedish snus manufacturers, importers and distributors can advertise the fact that it IS in fact 98% safer than smoking! Talk about reducing health care costs....can you imagine half of America quitting smoking??

[omega42]

I smoked for decades and tried everything to quit too, my doctor finally put me on Chantex and I am going on my third year of freedom from Nicotine.

[shylove2]

Smoking in moderation may be good for you...