Is Smokeless Tobacco Use an Appropriate Public Health Strategy for Reducing Societal Harm from Cigarette Smoking?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Scott L. Tomar²  Brion J. Fox¹ 

[1] University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, #385 Warf Office Building, 610 Walnut Street, Madison, WI 53726 USA; E-Mail:;University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, 1329 SW 16th Street, Suite 5180 P.O. Box 103628, Gainesville, FL 32610-3628 USA FL, USA

关键词: Smokeless tobacco;    harm reduction;    smoking cessation;    smoking initiation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph6010010

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Four arguments have been used to support smokeless tobacco (ST) for harm reduction: (1) Switching from cigarettes to ST would reduce health risks; (2) ST is effective for smoking cessation; (3) ST is an effective nicotine maintenance product; and (4) ST is not a “gateway” for cigarette smoking. There is little evidence to support the first three arguments and most evidence suggests that ST is a gateway for cigarette smoking. There are ethical challenges to promoting ST use. Based on the precautionary principle, the burden of proof is on proponents to provide evidence to support their position; such evidence is lacking.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2009 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.