How to Chew to Help Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is extremely difficult, because the nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive. As a smoker, you have no doubt attempted to break the habit more than once. Smoking is not only a physical addiction but also a psychological dependence. The act of reaching into the pack for a cigarette, lighting it, puffing, inhaling, and flicking the ashes are all very much ingrained in the smoker's daily life. Most smokers find that, when they quit, they do not know what to with their hands. Using smokeless tobacco is an option for some smokers to get off cigarettes.

Things You'll Need

• Smokeless tobacco
• Tobacco packs
• Snus pouches

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Instructions

• 1

  Trying smokeless tobacco in place of cigarettes may not be a good idea depending on your view of smokeless tobacco products. Chew, as it is sometimes referred to in the United States, is very different from what the Swedish have been using for years. This is known as snus--pronounced like "noose" with an "s" at the beginning. Snus is a powdered form of tobacco that is pasteurized and steam cured rather than fire cured like American snuff is. This steam process reduces the carcinogens, thereby making for a healthier product than cigarettes or snuff.

  Snus comes in two forms, loose or pouches, as does American snuff. The pouches are more popular for those using it to quit smoking, while the loose is more popular among those who began using it and never smoked. In Sweden, the amount of snus users is greater than the number of cigarette smokers. The incidence of cancer caused by any type of nicotine product has decreased in Sweden as more of their population quit smoking in favor of snus use. (See Reference 3)

• 2

  Purchase a can of Swedish snus pouches or American snuff pouches from your local tobacco store. Swedish snus is available in the United States, but the brands available are limited. It can be purchased from online shops outside the United States as well.

• 3

  Quit all cigarette smoking before using smokeless tobacco or snus. The easiest way is to start the day with no cigarettes and use snus or snuff in their place. When you normally would light your first cigarette of the day, use snus or snuff instead.

• 4

  Place a wad of Swedish snus under your upper lip at the front; there are less salivary glands in this area making the snus product naturally spit-free. If you are using American snuff, place it in the bottom jaw, between your gum and back teeth. It is spit-free as well, but because there are more salivary glands on the lower jaw, you may produce some sputum. The nicotine satisfaction will last 30 to 45 minutes.