US: Substitutes Help Tobacco Chewers Cut Back

Source from:  Post Bulletin  02/22/2013

Chewing tobacco and snuff users who did not want to quit "significantly cut back when given nicotine lozenges or tobacco-free snuff," Mayo Clinic researchers report.

Their findings are in February's journal "Addictive Behaviors."

A total of 81 users with no intention of quitting during the next month were given either nicotine lozenges (40) or tobacco-free snuff (41) and asked to cut back to half at one month and 75 percent at two months.They also got behavioral counseling.

"Both groups significantly reduced smokeless tobacco use in cans used per week and dips per day and sustained it through the end of the study," Mayo announced.

About one in three study participants continued using 75 percent less by 26 weeks post-study — "and 12 percent of the participants quit using it completely."

According to Mayo, long-term tobacco use is associated with cardiovascular disease and cancer. Enditem