Use of Spit Tobacco 10 Times Higher in NW Ontario

Source from:  tbsource.com Tb News Source 3/11/2008 03/12/2008

Two local youth groups are calling on the government to ban the sale of chew and spit tobacco in Ontario. YETI and MAKWA presented MPP Bill Mauro with 1,500 signed postcards on Tuesday in an effort to put an end to smokeless tobacco. The postcard campaign was a provincial effort that finished up during "Through with Chew Week" which ended the last week of February. The two local advocacy groups, which educate youth about the dangers of smoking, are calling for a ban on the product which spokesman Brent Fuhr says is aggressively marketed to young people and he feels it's time for the government to take action. The two groups, Youth Engaged in Tobacco-free Initiatives and Making Aboriginal Kids Walk Away from Tobacco Abuse have collected over 1,000 postcards with signatures of residents who are in favour of banning of chewing tobacco. "Spit tobacco is a growing problem in our community" Makwa peer leader, Fuhr said. "Nearly ten times as many youth in northwestern Ontario have used spit in the past year, than in the rest of the province." They say spit tobacco is just as addictive as cigarettes with one tin containing as much nicotine as three or four packs of cigarettes without mentioning the 3,000 chemicals, 30 of which are known carcinogens. The tobacco industry claims they do not target youth but their marketing would suggest otherwise. They advertise heavily in Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated and Maxim magazines, which are all aimed at a young market. The industry has even introduced candy flavours for chewing tobacco and packaging that is sleek, chic and discreet. One U.S. smokeless tobacco executive was quoted saying "Cherry Skoal is for somebody who likes the taste of candy, if you know what l mean.." Yeti and Makwa hope their campaign will decrease use and the resulting side effects from chew tobacco which includes, halitosis, yellow teeth, leukoplakia, heart disease, gum and tooth disease such as receding gums, cavities and chronic painful sores. Fuhr said "We really think we can make a difference here. Now is the time for the government to step in and ban this tobacco industry product, before it becomes an epidemic like smoking." Enditem