As many of you may be aware the long term health effects of nasal snuff tobacco are not widely known, largely because there has been no long term study of this form of tobacco use, since the Lancet published a report in 1981. However, recently Smokeless New Zealand have published a detailed report on the benefits of using snuff tobacco, particularly as a means to give up smoking. Smokeless New Zealand is a non profit making body consisting of Doctors and medical professionals, with the aim of providing a better deal for those addicted to nicotine who are unable or unwilling to quit smoking and by protecting the next generation by phasing out sales of smoked tobacco products as soon as possible. A comparative study was done between smokers and snuff users in New Zealand, Lesotho (where women have traditionally used nasal snuff), South Africa (where 13% of women use smokeless tobacco) and Sweden. They claim that, "Switching from smoking to snuffing can reduce the health risks by 90-95%, and financial costs of using tobacco by 60-90%." The report concludes that: "nasal snuff-taking is a useful option for cigarette smokers who have tried and failed with nicotine patches or gum. The more effective nicotine choices smokers have, the more they are likely to succeed at quitting smoking." Smokeless New Zealand went on to say that health professionals have a duty to inform smokers that:

• "nicotine products provide the safest stop- smoking method
• snuffing, though not risk-free, is much less dangerous than smoking. Switching to snuff will reduce a smoker’s risks substantially."

This is a very encouraging report for the snuff industry and backs up what the population of snuffers have been saying for many years. If this data is to be believed then it is indeed good news for smokers and snufftakers alike, although a longer term study is still needed. Surely, if snuff does help people to give up cigarettes or to cut down at least, then it can only be a good thing? For more information visit the Smokeless New Zealand site and read the report. See Also: Snuff Health