Why Snus, An Alternative To Vaping, Is Just As Dangerous

Every couple of years, a new anti-smoking product makes its way into the market, be it nicotine patches or medicinal nicotine gums. Now a Swedish tobacco product is gaining popularity as an alternative to smoking or vaping and it is known as snus. Snus is a tobacco product that is formed like bite-sized packets that carry nicotine. The users put these small snus bags under their lip and suck on them to get the nicotine rush. Currently, snus is illegal in all of the European Union (EU) except for Sweden. The snus producers market it as a tool that can eventually help people get over nicotine addiction. It is also promoted as being less harmful than smoking and vaping.

However, healthcare professionals worry that the growing popularity of snus may increase nicotine addiction amongst those who do not smoke. Additionally, the continuous use of snus packets has been linked to issues like oral lesions. It is also known to harm the gums and insides of one’s cheeks in the form of inflammation and gum recession. So far, there is very little research on the long-term harms of snus.

Doctors and experts suggest that though nicotine pouches like snus are seen as “better” than cigarettes, the best option is to use none of them because snus also has nicotine which can build addiction.

Pharmacist Ian Budd told Cosmopolitan, “The information we do have does not paint it in an entirely positive light. As snus contains nicotine, it is seen as an addictive substance, as it’s the nicotine in tobacco products that causes addiction in the first place. Some studies have shown that there may be a link to higher rates of pancreatic cancer, heart failure, and diabetes, although research is still ongoing.” He added, “We would never recommend the use of snus or nicotine pouches for those who don’t smoke already.”

Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy for the American Lung Association, told WebMD that it is important to note that in Sweden, the snus pouches have low nicotine but often in places like the USA, these packets are loaded with several chemicals. He said, “What we have seen is some of the tobacco companies calling their products snus, but that’s not quite the same as Swedish snus.” He added that the “nitrosamines” used in American snus can be carcinogenic.