All tobacco, whether you smoke or chew it, can cause cancer. The difference is that chewing tobacco can cause cancer where it stays the longest: the mouth, cheek, and gums. It also may cause tooth decay and stained teeth. In addition, the cancers caused by chewing tobacco can develop quickly, not just when a smoker gets older.
There is a law that makes it illegal to advertise on TV or radio, and that requires chewing tobacco companies to put warning labels on their packages.
Teen cigar smoking has increased dramatically, with the glamorous conception of cigar smoking. In 1997, 22% of U.S. High school students reported having smoked a cigar in the previous month. Male students (31.2%) were more likely than female students (10.8%) to smoke cigars.
For the first time, cigar packages and ads will soon warn smokers about the serious health risks of cigar smoking. Whether you buy Coronas or Churchills, Panatelas, Robustos, Lonsdales, or any other kind of cigar, be on the lookout for five new federally mandated health warnings. The messages may sound familiar: Cigarette companies have been required to give similar health warnings since the mid-1960's and smokeless tobacco manufacturers since the mid-1980's.
The warnings follow a report by the National Cancer Institute detailing the health risks of cigar smoking. Specifically, cigar smoking can cause cancers of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx and lungs. For smokers who inhale, the health risks increase dramatically. Cigar smoking also can cause heart disease and emphysema.
The warnings, which cigar companies are required to rotate, include:
SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Cigar Smoking Can Cause Cancers Of The Mouth And Throat, Even If You Do Not Inhale.
SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Cigar Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer And Heart Disease.
SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Tobacco Use Increases The Risk Of Infertility, Stillbirth And Low Birth Weight.
SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Cigars Are Not A Safe Alternative To Cigarettes.
SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Tobacco Smoke Increases The Risk Of Lung Cancer And Heart Disease, Even In Nonsmokers.
Cigar companies will be required to display these warnings clearly and prominently on packages, in print ads, on audio and video ads, on the Internet, and on point-of-purchase displays. The point, say federal consumer protection and health officials, is to make sure that companies disclose the health risks of cigar smoking and that consumers understand that there's no such thing as a safe smoke.
Cigar Links:
www.lungusa.org/tobacco/cigar_factsheet99.html
www.ftc.gov
Natural Tobacco
Do not be fooled by "natural tobacco" products that are marketed to teens and college students. They're not healthier. In fact, natural tobacco can be deadlier than average cigarettes.
Unfortunately, for today's youth and young adults, forms of natural tobacco, including bidis, clove cigarettes, cigars, chew/dip tobacco, pipe tobacco and organic cigarettes, are viewed as trendy and perhaps even healthier, despite the real health risks.
"Natural tobacco doesn't have anything to do with being healthier," says Ross Payson, project director for tobacco programs at the Dental Health Foundation. "Natural means it has a small percentage of non-synthetic substances. It's a marketing scam."
Natural tobacco often contains higher concentrations of tar and nicotine, and the smoke has greater levels of toxic agents such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and carcinogenic hydrocarbons. This not only increases the smoker's risk of developing lung cancer or other diseases, but it also jeopardizes the health of everyone in the room.
"You're still inhaling carbon monoxide and 400 carcinogens and poisons," Payson says.
American Lung Associations in California and other groups, including the Dental Health Foundation and the California Youth Advocacy Network, are implementing new programs and adjusting others to combat the rise in natural tobacco use by teens and college students, and the ultimate disease and premature death it will cause.
New Study Shows 40 Percent of Teens Have Smoked Bidis
A recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found in a Boston-area study of 642 high school students that 40 percent had tried bidis and 16 percent were current bidi smokers.
"Natural tobacco is an up and coming issue," says Jennifer Williams, director of Tobacco Control for the American Lung Association of the Central Coast. "We found that older and younger teens are asking about bidis and cloves because they think they are a lot safer than cigarettes."
Bidi cigarettes, also known as beadies or beedies, are handrolled tendu leaves containing low-grade tobacco and tied up with string. Widely available in grocery stores and convenience stores for about half the cost of cigarettes, the paper-wrapped bundles of bidis come in several flavors including cinnamon, vanilla and strawberry.
Nearly 70 percent of bidi brands do not have warning labels as required by law, according to a Dental Health Foundation fact sheet.
Bidis are known as the "poor man's cigarette" in India. They are made by women and children in India's poor households, according to research compiled by the Dental Health Foundation. In addition to a lack of health precautions and poor working conditions, it has been shown that bidi assemblers absorb nicotine through their skin.
"Teens are aware of the health risks from smoking tobacco and it may not have an impact," Payson says. "But I think it would have more of an impact if they knew that children in India roll 1,000 to 1,500 bidis a day, for 30 cents per day in a 12 to 16-hour work day. They work under poor conditions and there is no quality assurance."
American Lung Association Fights Dangerous Trend
To combat this dangerous rise in bidi smoking, American Lung Associations throughout the state are implementing Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU), in cooperation with the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. The all-day training and education workshop trains teens how to talk to children about the dangers and myths about tobacco.
"We found that using teens as anti-tobacco educators for elementary school children is more effective than using adults," Williams says.
More than 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking in their teens, resulting in the creation of tobacco control programs that focus on early prevention in junior high and high school. There are very few prevention and cessation programs for young adults ages 18 to 25.
"Mind the Gap" is an advocacy project implemented by the American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties focusing on college students in that age category on seven college campuses in Santa Clara and San Benito counties. The project focuses on education and prevention.
"Our goal is to make campuses smoke-free," says Francis Capili, project director at the American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties. "We want to protect people from secondhand smoke and limit tobacco accessibility."
Natural Tobacco Links
www.californialung.org/spotlight/naturaltobacco.html
www.cdc.gov/tobacco/spit.html
