In an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal, Carl Bialik comments on what has become the grand debate to the tobacco control community in recent years. Should smokeless tobacco products be recommended for use as “safer” than smoked tobacco? Do they have a public health benefit? Can they be useful in helping smokers quit or are those smokers likely to become dual users? If this myriad of new products is mainstreamed how will it impact initiation of use by children and youth?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703876404575200660292856340.html

It should be noted that smokeless tobacco is carcinogenic, causing cancers of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor and roof of the mouth. It is also addictive. It is the National Cancer Institute’s position that the accumulated scientific evidence does not support smokeless tobacco as a recommended substitute for cigarettes.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/smokeless