Snus

‘Siberia’ Snus

A Swedish invention, Snus is moist tobacco that is used orally.

• It's mostly portioned into convenient sachets (like teabags).
• Whereas "loose snus" tobacco powder has to be squeezed into spherical/cylindrical shape before use.
• Not chewed, but usually placed behind the upper lip.
• It is available in a range of flavours and strengths to suit any palate / nicotine requirement.
• Can be used for 20-60min usually, or as long as it still emits flavours or until it liquifies too much.
• Often available for around 5 moneys for a tin of 24 (sizing varies).
• Lower dependency profile than cigarettes, because of slower nicotine absorbtion (akin to gums).
• Should be stored in the fridge, if infrequently used.
• Banned in the EU to preserve cancer rates (probably).

Studies

2003: Effect of smokeless tobacco (snus) on smoking and public health in Sweden (J Foulds / L Ramstrom / M Burke / K Fagerström)

"Snus availability in Sweden appears to have contributed to the unusually low rates of smoking among Swedish men by helping them transfer to a notably less harmful form of nicotine dependence."

2013: Patterns of dual use of snus and cigarettes in a mature snus market (Karl Erik Lund / Ann McNeill), n=3524

Dual use is relatively small. Large percentage of users have stopped smoking, or are planning to by using snus. […]

2015: Time to First Use Among Daily Smokers and Smokeless Tobacco Users (Brad Rodu / Nantaporn Plurphanswat / Karl Fagerström)

"[…] offering some support for the Fagerström-Eissenberg hypothesis that the dependence level of cigarettes is higher than that of ST." (certainly applies to Snus as well)

Other references

• http://www.smokersonly.org/ on smokeless tobacco as quitting option. Mentions an estimate of ST being 98% less harmful than cigarettes.
• https://snusforumet.se/en/snus-science-database/ - Encompassing research list on Snus Forum.
• https://www.snuson.com/ - Consumer forum.