Through With Chew Week is Feb. 18 – 24

Dear Editor,

Each year, Through with Chew Week raises awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco use whether it be chew, dip, pouches, or snus. This year, Valley County Health Department is encouraging people who use smokeless tobacco to set a quit date and quit for good.

According to the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Montana has the third highest prevalence of adult male smokeless tobacco use in the nation (13.2 percent), just behind West Virginia (14.5 percent) and Wyoming (13.6 percent).

Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, the same addictive and toxic chemical found in other tobacco products. Many chemicals in smokeless tobacco are known to cause several cancers including oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers. Other common harmful effects include tumors affecting the nasal cavity, lungs, trachea, pancreas, liver, and throat. The American Heart Association reports smokeless tobacco use can also increase the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Oral nicotine pouches, such as Zyn or Velo, are increasing in popularity and, although they claim to be tobacco-free, these products contain nicotine derived from tobacco and are highly addictive. Nicotine pouches are not FDA-approved quit ads and the long-term health effects of nicotine pouch use are unknown. There is no safe form of commercial tobacco use.

The best thing you can do for your health is quit all forms of commercial tobacco use. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line offers free self-help tools, quit medications and coaching services to help Montanans successfully quit. Currently, participants can get two weeks of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges free without coaching. When enrolled in coaching, participants can access eight weeks of patches, gum, or lozenges or, with a valid prescription, three months of Bupropion or Varenicline at no cost.

Start your smokeless tobacco quit journey today!

*To get started call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit http://www.QuitNowMontana.com.

*The American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Line: 1-855-5AI-QUIT, or MTAmercianIndianQuitLine.com

*My Life, My Quit (Under 18): 1-855-891-9989, MyLifeMyQuit.com.

Sincerely,

Valley County Tobacco Education Specialist Teri Meche

For more information, contact her at 406-228-6261.