Should the health community promote smokeless tobacco (snus) as a harm reduction measure?
2007
Should the Health Community Promote Smokeless Tobacco (Snus) as a Harm Reduction Measure?
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Coral Gartner, Wayne Hall, Simon Chapman, Becky Freeman
Primary Institution: University of Queensland
Hypothesis
Is smokeless tobacco (snus) a viable harm reduction strategy for smokers?
Conclusion
Smokers who switch to snus will reduce the risks of their tobacco use.
Supporting Evidence
- Snus has been used by substantial proportions of nicotine consumers in Sweden over the past several decades.
- Studies in Sweden have failed to detect any increase in oral cancer or cardiovascular disease rates among snus users.
- The promotion of snus use by inveterate smokers is a promising public health policy.
Takeaway
If smokers use snus instead of cigarettes, they can be healthier because snus is less harmful than smoking.
Potential Biases
There is a risk that the tobacco industry may exploit snus marketing to promote cigarettes.
Limitations
The study does not account for cultural differences in tobacco use and the potential for dual use of snus and cigarettes.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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