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

Scott L. Tomar, Brion J. Fox and Herbert H. Severson
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Scott L. Tomar: University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, 1329 SW 16th Street, Suite 5180 P.O. Box 103628, Gainesville, FL 32610-3628 USA FL, USA
Brion J. Fox: University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, #385 Warf Office Building, 610 Walnut Street, Madison, WI 53726 USA
Herbert H. Severson: Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Blvd., Eugene, OR 97403 USA

IJERPH, 2008, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Smokeless tobacco; harm reduction; smoking cessation; smoking initiation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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