R.J. Reynolds is getting ready for the national debut of Camel Snus, a new type of smokeless chewing tobacco. According to a report in The New York Times, R.J. Reynolds is hoping Camel Snus catches on with consumers as a more “socially acceptable” form of tobacco. But health officials are worried about the product’s potential to cause health problems.
According to the Associated Press, Snus was invented in Sweden where it has been popular for decades. However, the European Union banned Snus in 2004 over cancer worries. Unlike regular chewing tobacco, users can swallow the juice Snus produces, so there is no spitting. And unlike cigarettes, there is no second hand smoke. Apparently, those properties are what R.J. Reynolds thinks will make Camel Snus, which is currently being test marketed nationwide, more “socially acceptable.”
But according to The New York Times, the amount of nicotine contained in a pouch – a single dose – of Camel Snus is higher than is what is found in most other chewing tobaccos. A spokesperson for R.J. Reynolds told the Times that each pouch of Snus contains 8 milligrams of nicotine.
There is also concern that R.J. Reynolds is manipulating the nicotine in Snus. According to The New York Times, an earlier version of the product that was test marketed in the U.S. contained only 2 milligrams per pouch. The West Virginia University researcher who made that discovery told the Times that the nicotine increase likely didn’t happen by accident.
Although it is unclear how much nicotine in smokeless tobacco reaches brain, more nicotine could make Camel Snus a highly addictive product. That’s why so many health advocates are worried. While people who use smokeless tobacco don’t face a higher risk of diseases like lung cancer, there can be other consequencs.
According to an article published by ReportonBusiness.com, smokeless tobacco products contain 28 carcinogens and raise the risk of oral, pancreatic and esophageal cancers, mouth lesions and gum disease. If Snus takes off and proves to be more addictive than other forms of smokeless tobacco, the public health consequences could be enormous.
Cigarette usage is declining in many countries, including the U.S. According to ReportonBusiness.com, total U.S. sales of cigarettes fell by 40% from 1987 to 2005, while smokeless tobacco sales were essentially unchanged. Tobacco companies like R.J. Reynolds are anxious to regain some of their market share, and they clearly see smokeless tobacco as an avenue for doing so.
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March 21st, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi, I discovered SNUS yesterday and thought about it. I went back this morning and bought some. I never used snuff and I am a chain smoker. I have been looking for an avenue to quit smoking and I thought this would be a good way to quit. I havent had a ciggarette all day but let me tell you, I have been nauseous and I have had chest pain all day.
I used eight little bags of it. It they say that the nicotine patches at 21 miligrams each are so dangerous to smoke on due to the possibility of cardiac arrest, then why is this not dangerous? I have taken in sity-four miligrams today?! I wanted to do this because Chantix never did work. I thought this was the answer to my prayers to be able to quit but after today, I just don’t know. Maybe I should just dip less pouches tomarrow?
Christie
April 16th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I smoked heavy for over twenty years. I finally quit but now I have a new addiction with smokeless tobacco. This isn’t what i wanted. Nicotine is nicotine and it’s highly addictive in any form. The new snus is pleasant to say the least. However, It too will become an addiction like all the other pouches. Why trade one addiction for another? I wish I had never started using the smokless products. Sure my lungs feel better but like mentioned there are other side effects. It’s a sad state and I DO NOT recommend it to any one to stop smoking cigarettes!
May 19th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I have been a full-time menthol smoker for 15 years; I attempted to quit smoking 6 weeks ago. I started using camel snus because my stop-smoking aids weren’t helping me through the rough patches associated with nicotine abstinence. I now smoke when I drink alcohol or coffee, which is estimated at about 15 cigarettes a week. Unfortunately, I acquired a taste for camel snus, so I am currently dual-addicted to snus and cigarettes. Essentially, I tried to put out the fire by smothering it with an alcohol soaked blanket and am worse off than when I began.
May 20th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I was really skeptical about snus, I’ve never been a fan of chewing tobacco. However I’ve been smoking about a pack of cigarettes a day. Recently I decided to get some snus, and in cohesion with the cigarettes, well lets just say now a can of snus and pack of cigarettes will last me 3-5 days, which wonderful financially, and I think my lungs are thanking me as well. It’s very nice to have an alternative. one of those pouches will keep me from smoking a cigarette for like 4-8 hours, I was very surprised and satisfied with this (and it’s not all gross like chewing tobacco).
May 20th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I have asthmatic bronchitis. I am 26 years old and now very ill from my stint smoking 2-3 packs per day. My lungs hurt, my chest feels like it is being ripped out of my body… but I still have my addiction to cigarettes. I tried Chantix and only found that I became angry, secluded and unstable. Now that I am sick and cannot smoke cigarettes because of my lungs, I have tried Camel Snus. I do not use that many of the little pouches, because they last 30 minutes. It has helped me keep the smoke out of my lungs… so I don’t think it’s necessarily bad to use Snus. You must weigh out the pros and cons… for me, Snus keeps me from going insane (without the nicotine) while allowing my lungs a chance to recoup from 5 years of heavy smoking. I believe we all know that smoking is not good for you. For non-smokers it’s easy to say… just quit, don’t do it, stop smoking… it’s not that easy in “real life.” So, if your lungs need a break… try the Snus. I find that the frost flavor is rather refreshing, and your breath smells like mint afterwards. I hope to get off the snus too, but for now, I’m taking it one day at a time. That’s the only true way to end a habit.
May 24th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Snus has eliminated my need to smoke completely. Each portion does contain 8mg of nicotine but I seriously doubt that much is actually absorbed because of the low ph level in Camel Snus. Snus is a slow released nicotine so that first morning rush is a little delayed and can lead to cigarette cravings. I went from about a pack a day of cigs and am not about a 5 portion a day Snus user which cuts cost considerably. Studies have shown no link to cancer, even mouth and pancreas but has shown a slight increase in heard disease. This increase is only half of that of smokers. The anti smoking campain is great for controling second hand smoke but snus hurts noone but the user and much less than cigarettes. What ever happened to our free society? My snus doesn’t hurt you so leave me alone.
May 30th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Hi
WE GOT HOME SO SHE COULD LOOK IT UP THE WEB come to find out it has more nicotine than the skoal I use to chew. I really think that Camel should make sure that the stores that sell their product KNOWS THAT SNUS IS NOT NICOTINE FREE!!!! My advice to anyone that is trying to quit chewing go to a smoke shop or on the web and get some of the mint nicotine free chew.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
While I like snus I prefer my electronic cigarette from Vaporstix.com
It basically lets me smoke as I would with a cigarette, but it only produces vapor with nicotine in it.
Nicotine levels vary, and you can CHOOSE your strength. I haven’t had an urge to smoke a real cigarette since I started and I’m down to the low nicotine level now.
June 7th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I have been smoking 3 packs of cigarettes for 42 years. I finally decided to quit. I used “the patch” for three days, I was fine. I went out to buy more patches and realized I had a tin of “snus” which was given to me free when I bought an R.J. Reynolds made pack of cigarettes a month ago. When I received it, I never dreamed I would even try it. I just accepted it because the tin was so cool and I love tins. I’ve been using it for a month now and love it. My lungs are finally getting cleaned up. My wife is thrilled because she has allergies and my cigarette smoking was really bothering her. Maybe I will get mouth cancer-but you know what? I’m 57 years old and and this point I’m willing to gamble that it will take at least 20 years to develop-at which point I’ll be dead anyway. At least now I can hold emphysema at bay.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:01 am
I reckon that using snus moderately is about as safe as drinking coffee. Snus is steam pastuerized, inhibiting the bacteria that is inherent in tobacco. These bacteria produce TSNA’s which are the primary carcinogenic substances in tobacco. Look up the studies of snus conducted by Swedish health experts. Swedish men have the lowest rates of tobacco-related illness out of all tobacco using countries. Snus may be the death of the cigarette industry, because it is an effective harm reduction measure.
Through Camel snus, I discovered imported snus from Sweden. It is of much higher quality than Camel snus and provides more tobacco flavor, which ex-smokers like me love. If you don’t mind the nic addiction and enjoy tobacco, I strongly suggest snus as an alternative. Your lungs will thank you. Just make sure to take extra care with your oral hygeine to minimize tooth decay :)
August 4th, 2009 at 2:08 am
I started using a product call Ariva from being a pack and a half a day smoker. Ariva was good an helped me smoke less but didnt solve the problem of me being a smoker. Then along came Snus. I was dual addicted for a short time. Eventualy, my ciggerite cravings slowly stared to go away and after about 2 months, i just stoped smoking finding less satisfying than the snus! I have been a TOTAL non smoker for a good 6 months now and feal GREAT!!! I can breath, oh god can i breath. I dont smell like smoke, food tastes better and a can of snus will last 2 to three days. I can feal my body is in better health and dont get the ups and downs I had with cigs. Im tons less angry, less violent and dont have any of those side effects that come with quiting smoking.
I understand that I traded one addiction for another but come one people, anything is better than smoking. Now here is where your brain comes into play. Once you kick the smoking “habits”, your open to a wide variety of products in the snus and hard snuff range which are much safer that smoking and just as satifying, so why not go for the safest you can without compromising your satisfaction? Do your reaserch and open your mind to Swedish and Norwigen Snus products with published TSNA levels and Nicotene levels. Look into products like Ariva and Stonewall (which I am curently using and loving) which have some of the lowest TSNA levels in the industry. Today we have the internet and literaly a world of options to chose from. My best advice is dont let avaliblity be your stumling block.
Camel snus is sold and many local convience stores which makes it easy to obtain but I will tell you from expernce that imported snus ordered online is both CHEAPER, and has published TSNA levels. Its also tastes sooooo much better. Ariva and Stonewall come in a few flavors, all of which I enjoy, and are convienent and at 2 bucks a box can be stockpiled at room tempriture for a long time and again are the safest nictine products i have found.
Look, im a nicotine addict, and proud of it. I am now also a non smoker and have snus to thank for it. Nicotine is not what makes these products dangerous, its what makes them addictive and satisfying. If it wasent for snus, I would have smoked for the rest of my life, had a poorer quality of life and would of probaly lost many years at the end period. Think of it this way. Smoking comparied to using snus or hard snuff with low TSNA levels is the equivilent to chossing between McDonalds high transfat cheeseburgers or eating gormet turkey burgers which both taste better, are tons less harmfull and COST LESS!!!! You decide.
August 9th, 2009 at 9:15 am
I smoked for more than 20 years but was always into weight lifting, hiking, snowboarding, being active. It seemed so counterproductive to get out of the gym after weight lifting and light up a cigarette. I did the weight lifting/ smoking for about 10 years but felt the toll my lungs were taking whenever i would hike or do a lung-demanding activity. I started dating a girl from the gym that was a personal trainer and ran many marathons. I feared that if she new i smoked it would ruin my chances with her. Anyone that is really into being healthy is never going to date a smoker (why the hell would they?). So my temporary solution was to start using Camel pouches as they are typically more socially acceptable and don’t leave a lingering smoky smell. I was able to immediately quit. Not sure if it was the product that made this possible or my desire to be with this girl; perhaps a little of both.
I have now been with her for over three years and am somewhat thankful for my new found addiction. Also, I ran my first marathon last month and a 12k the month before. Of course i wish i wasn’t wasting my money on this shit at all but i see it as one step at a time and this step has paid priceless dividends. I figure i can spend $50/week on cigarettes and smell like smoke, or continue the “buy one can get one free” deal near my house and spend $15/week on six cans which is much more cost effective.
By the way, I haven’t bought a pack of cigarettes in over two years and my lungs feel like they are at 100%.
August 10th, 2009 at 11:53 am
If you check out Snustest there’s info on nicotine levels of pretty much all snus brands.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Man these things are like crack in a pouch. Currently dipping three at a time, and smoking cigarettes. It is insane, I cant eat, I cant sleep. All I do is smoke and dip snus now its one hell of an addiction. :D
September 27th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Snus helped me quit 12 years of smoking. I’ve had free cessation classes and free quit smoking products through the military, yet was never able to quite more than a couple weeks. Snus is the answer for me, and harms no one but myself. I smoked over a pack a day, and several packs in a night if I was drinking. I always hated dipping, always made me sick. This is a great alternative, and I have quit cigarettes all together. I hated Snus at first, but kept at it. After 1 month of using only Snus, I can even go days without a pouch. Seems like much of the objection to this product comes from the non-smoker “abstenance is the only way” movement. I am now more active, I run, excersize and feel better in general. I don’t smell. I’ve never felt better. I have weighed the pros and cons. The last 12 smoking years were full of rank breath, ashtray smelling clothes, coughing, shortness of breath and less physical activity. The next 12 and beyond are looking much better. I can use this at work and home, and no one has any idea! I don’t care if Camel and the others made this to be an addictive product. I don’t think it was inteded to be a quit smoking product, but IT HELPED ME QUIT SMOKING CIGARETTES, UNLIKE ANY OTHER PRODUCT. I’ll take my chances with a few Snus side effects. Smokers, there is an alternative! Forget the nay sayers!
September 27th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Snus helped me quit 12 years of smoking. I’ve had free cessation classes and free quit smoking products through the military, yet was never able to quite more than a couple weeks. Snus is the answer for me, and harms no one but myself. I smoked over a pack a day, and several packs in a night if I was drinking. I always hated dipping, always made me sick. This is a great alternative, and I have quit cigarettes all together. After 1 month of using only Snus, I can even go days without a pouch. Seems like much of the objection to this product comes from the non-smoker “abstenance is the only way” movement. I am now more active, I run, excersize and feel better in general. I don’t smell. I’ve never felt better. I have weighed the pros and cons. The last 12 smoking years were full of rank breath, ashtray smelling clothes, coughing, shortness of breath and less physical activity. The next 12 and beyond are looking much better. I can use this at work and home, and no one has any idea! I don’t care if Camel and the others made this to be an addictive product. IT HELPED ME QUIT SMOKING CIGARETTES, UNLIKE ANY OTHER PRODUCT. I’ll take my chances with the Snus side effects. Smokers, there is an alternative! Forget the nay sayers!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I’m wondering how you can “switch addictions” when it’s the nicotine that your addicted to? I prefer the Swedish Snus, but when you run out it’s time for the corner store and some Camel Snus.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
i had oral surgery, and i couldn’t smoke. so i got 2 tins of camel’s. and i’ll be damned if it didn’t work. but i’ve decided to quit smoking, my mouth is still cut up but i dont even wanna finish the pack of camel filters. my heart rate is almost 100 at rest!!! smoking has fucked me up.
save a shrub, smoke a tree ;]
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Camel Snus is not addicting for me. I was a pack a day smoker now Im down to maybe one or two a day, I use around 6 pouches of snus a day, I think its a good way to quit smoking, if you really want to quit. Plus the snus tastes like ass, both frost and mellow flavors. So I will be smoke free and snus free in no time. (besides when I drink)
November 9th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I am 19 years old and have been smoking rather heavily for the past couple of years. In the past two years I have kept telling myself that I could stop anytime (cliché) and was not addicted. NOT TRUE. I recently became an uncle and told myself that I would quit smoking as soon as my nephew was born. Obviously, as soon as I quit, I started to become very irritable and had very strong cravings. I started using snus (only about 3-4 pouches a day) and have since then not had a craving. Don’t get me wrong, I still want a cigarette when I am in social situations, working on my car, doing homework, things of that nature, but this definitely helps to keep the headaches and jitters away. I know that snus is not necessarily safe, but it is certainly better for me than cigarettes, and 4 pouches beats a pack a day, both physically and financially.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
i am 22 years old and have only been smoking for about 4 years. i have always been against any chewing tobbacco because of all of the gross spitting you have to do. did try it once and after that never touched the stuff. but this new snus product was givin to me for free when i bought my last pack of ciggarettes and to tell the truth i am actually suprised at the fact that i like it. i can see myself buying this product in the future due to the fact that i can use it bascially anywhere without blowing smoke in my freind faces who dont smoke or spitting a giant wad of black juice all over the sidewalk.