Snus is a smokeless tobacco product that is produced in various forms and is used as chewing tobacco. It is placed in the form of portion bags or loose tobacco between the gum and the upper (sometimes lower) lip for 5 to 30 minutes so that nicotine is absorbed into the blood and enters the body, bypassing the larynx and lungs. This substance is not only tobacco. It includes tobacco, water as a humidifier, soda to enhance the taste and salt or sugar as a preservative. In some mixtures, essential oils are added to the leaves of other herbs, pieces of berries and fruits for additional flavor.

 

A LITTLE HISTORY AND ABOUT THE SPREAD OF SNUS

 

Snus https://snuskingdom.ch/english/snus-kingdom/epok-snus.html first appeared in Sweden in 1637 and until today it was mostly produced and used in this country. According to 2007 data, 24% of men and 3% of women used epok snus in Sweden, and in 1999 these figures were only 19 and 1%. This means that this type of chewing tobacco has become even more popular.

The use of snus has also spread to other countries. It has become extremely popular in Norway and has gained some popularity in the EU, the USA and Russia. In all countries except the United States, Sweden and Norway, its sale was banned due to its harmful effects on the body. The harm of epok snus is estimated as stronger than from smoking tobacco.

In European countries, except Sweden, thanks to the efforts of WHO, epok snus has been banned by legislation since 1993. In the Russian Federation, a ban on this form of sucking tobacco was introduced in 2015. However, it still continues to be imported into the country under the guise of chewing tobacco and is freely sold on the Internet and other retail outlets in different cities of the country.

TYPES OF SNUS

 

The industry produces two types of snus:

 

portioned – packed in small tea bags similar to tea bags of 0.3-2 g;

loose – it is sold by weight in cardboard packages with a plastic lid.

Portioned epok snus appeared in 1979 and became more popular. It is packed in different packages;

mini-0, 3 – 0, 4 g;

standard (or large) – 0.8-1 g;

maxi – 1, 5-2 g.

Women usually prefer to take mini packages, and men – standard ones.

Packages can be brown – they are painted at the last stage of production with tobacco and sprayed with water, or white. Men usually prefer brown packaging, and women – white.

Loose epok snus is bought by weight and is usually consumed by 1-2 g, laying it behind the upper lip. Before administration, a lump is formed from it with the help of fingers or a special dispenser.

Most of the snus is produced without flavorings and has the taste and smell of tobacco. However, there are also flavored varieties with such additives as mint, lavender, lime, coffee, vanilla, melon, menthol, raspberry, bergamot, melon, whiskey, etc.More often, flavored snus is sold in a portion form.

 

HOW DOES SNUS WORK?

 

The use of snus, like smoking cigarettes, is aimed at the intake of nicotine into the body. Chewing tobacco contains much more nicotine than smoking tobacco. However, approximately the same amount of it gets into the blood. After 30 minutes after laying a portion of epok snus, about 15 ng/ml of nicotine is determined in the blood, and then the indicator of 30 ng/ml is kept for a dividing time. At the same time, unlike smoking, when using snus, tobacco smoke and substances contained in it do not enter the body. That is why at first the use of snus may seem safe and less harmful. This is exactly how it is positioned by manufacturers.

 

DEPENDENCE ON SNUS

 

Snus, like tobacco for smoking, inevitably causes nicotine addiction. Many experts are sure that the physical and mental dependence on snus is much stronger and it is extremely difficult to get rid of it. That is why, according to the complexity of its treatment, it is often put in one row, if not drug, then with alcohol or tobacco addiction.

Manufacturers spread such a myth about epok snus – this product can reduce the craving for smoking and even helps to cope with tobacco addiction. The truth is only the first part of the myth – snus can really reduce the number of cigarettes smoked to a minimum, or even you can quit smoking cigarettes altogether. However, the second part of the myth is a complete lie, since the desire to smoke will be replaced by a craving for laying tobacco on the lip and nicotine addiction will not go anywhere.

Addiction when taking epok snus occurs much faster than lightning, and dependence on nicotine is more pronounced. Even when trying to keep snus in your mouth for only 5-10 minutes, a large dose of nicotine enters the bloodstream. An attempt to replace smoking with sucking tobacco can be compared to an attempt to refuse to take a light drug by "jumping" to a heavier one. In addition, the observations of experts show that many fans of snus subsequently switch back to smoking cigarettes.

The potential for the development of addiction depends on the rate of entry of a psychoactive substance into the brain. When sucking tobacco, nicotine enters the brain, bypassing the bronchi and lungs, much faster. In addition, the most common portion of snus among consumers contains 5 times more nicotine than in a cigarette. That is why the dependence on sucking tobacco develops faster and manifests itself more strongly. Often it is simply impossible to cope with such an addiction without the help of a specialist.

Snus consists of tobacco, salt (or sugar), soda and water. All these substances are not narcotic and therefore sucking tobacco cannot be considered a drug. This analogy is usually carried out in connection with the appearance of severe nicotine dependence on epok snus. Sometimes parents are alarmed by the form of taking sucking tobacco in the form of bags, and they think that the teenager has started taking drugs.

Snus is not a drug, but it has a very harmful effect on the body and the nicotine addiction that occurs against the background of its reception needs treatment. The fight against its reception should begin as early as possible, since the addiction develops very quickly and is more difficult to treat. The harm of snus is obvious and it cannot be considered a safe alternative to smoking.