Smokeless Tobacco: “Can there be fire when there is no Smoke” Part 8

Tobacco Control

Unlike the rigid anti smoking activities, most health care worker agree that substituting smokeless tobacco for smoking is a wise risk-reduction strategy because it reduces all smoking-related risks and introduces no new risks. There is some who agree that an oral cavity cancer does occur after use of both smoking and smokeless tobacco-but now we are relegated to choosing which is the lesser evil.

Concerned physicians and dentists understand that it is their moral and ethical obligation to help patients make informed lifestyle choices, all of which involve benefits and risks. Providing information about an alternative to smoking that is significantly more safer is not only consistent with the highest standards of medical ethics, it is required of them.

The past few decades have brought ever more assertive public health campaigns against cigarette smoking. Numerous well-funded public and private agencies has set as its goal a reduction in the epidemic of cigarette smoking. The organization’s influence has resulted in pervasive health warnings, ever more intensive quit-smoking programs, and recently the social ostracism of smokers and the industry that supplies them. Yet many Americans continue to smoke, and the number of women starting to smoke is on the rise.

Conclusion

Despite what the Swedes and the Tobacco industry claims, the risk of oral cancer is increased if you use smokeless tobacco products. These cancers of the oral cavity may involve the tongue, cheeks, lips, gums and jaw. The treatment of all oral cancer is surgery and the surgery is no walk in the park. It is a major undertaking and results in severe disfiguring. The majority of patients are completely disabled after surgery- that is if they leave long enough. The people who use smokeless tobacco do not die of gum and dental disease. The majority die of oral cancer.

There is no easy answer to curb the smoking epidemic. There are no magical portions or cures to help one stop smoking. The smoking industry is a billionaire industry which also is an important economic powerhouse. Despite all the health risks and complications of smoking, this habit is universal and consumes a lot of health care dollars. Everyone claims as to what is the best remedy but so far none is effective. It's never too late to quit using tobaccos products. There may not be fire with the use of smokeless tobacco products, but one can rest assured the potential to burn one’s mouth and body is enormous. The only way to stop smoking is never to start it in the first place.