Do you also think smoking is old-fashioned? Do you find it disgusting? Are you worried about your health? Try snus!
In more and more places in the Netherlands, the use of snus is becoming clearly visible and problematic. People think that snus is not unhealthy because there is no combustion. Snus is also called chewing tobacco because it is pressed under the upper lip against the gums. This allows you to consume nicotine without smoking. It often comes in a trendy box. And snus tastes “good” because the finely ground tobacco contains flavorings and fragrances. Snus is widely used in Sweden, which is also the only country in the European Union where snus is not banned. However, the use of snus is also spreading to countries within and outside Europe, including the Netherlands. A recent Finnish study among men aged 18 to 29 looked at predictive factors that influence snus use (1).
This study shows that there are significant differences between daily snus users and occasional users, particularly with regard to the age at which snus is first used (median age is 16 years versus 17 years, respectively). This also applies to the amount of snus used (average of 10 portions per day versus 3), the daily duration of use (average of 372 minutes per day versus 139), and the total period of snus use (average of 3 years versus 2 years) . The younger the person is when they first use snus, the greater the chance that they will use it daily, in large quantities (packs per day), that the duration of use per pack will increase significantly, and that it will also be used for much longer. These are results we know from countless studies that have been done on cigarette use. Is history repeating itself?
We do not yet know to what extent the research results can be generalized to Dutch practice. Nevertheless, it seems wise to start preparing for a campaign among young people that highlights the dangers of snus. Research has already shown that the use of snus increases the risk of starting smoking (2,3). Research has also shown that the use of snus causes health problems (4, 5,6). Now that research has also shown that the age at which snus is first used is an important predictor of later daily use, we know that such a campaign should focus primarily on young people of secondary school age. Because the Finnish study also found some evidence that a lower level of education has an influence, it seems sensible to initially focus on a campaign in schools, starting in the first year of practical schools, vocational education, and theoretical education. Let’s not give history the chance to repeat itself!
This blog was written by Patrick Spee for the course Recent Developments in Risk Behavior, Master’s in Public Health, 2022.
References
Danielsson M, Tanner T, Patinen P, et al. (2021). Prevalence, duration of exposure and predicting factors for snus use among young Finnish men: a cross-sectional study BMJ Open.
Grøtvedt, L., Forsén, L., Ariansen, I. et al. (2019). Impact of snus use in teenage boys on tobacco use in young adulthood; a cohort from the HUNT Study Norway. BMC Public Health 19, 1265.
Danielsson, M., Lammi, A., Siitonen, S. et al. (2019). Alarming development of dual snus and cigarette usage among young Finnish males. BMC Public Health 19, 1249.
Yuan, S., Titova, O.E., Damrauer, S.M. et al. (2022). Swedish snuff (snus) dipping, cigarette smoking, and risk of peripheral artery disease: a prospective cohort study. Sci Rep 12, 12139.
Antoniewicz L, Kabele M, Nilsson U, Pourazar J, Rankin G, Bosson JA, et al. (2022) Chronic snus use in healthy males alters endothelial function and increases arterial stiffness. PLoS ONE 17(6): e0268746.
Alizadehgharib, S, Lehrkinder, A, Alshabeeb, A, Östberg, A-K, Lingström, P. (2022). The effect of a non-tobacco-based nicotine pouch on mucosal lesions caused by Swedish smokeless tobacco (snus). Eur J Oral Sci. 2022; 130:e12885.