Deseret News | Evils of 'chew' stressed

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Evils of 'chew' stressed

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Eric.. | 8:39 a.m. April 15, 2008

i Cant stop chewing.. some one give me advice! plz im only 13.. ive been doing it for a hole year i need to stop

joe g | 10:58 a.m. April 17, 2008

dipping has slowed down my sex life

and now i lost all my energy and can't even hang with friends
i lose all my energy riding through the c.c.

Brian | 12:54 p.m. April 20, 2008

This is for you bubba ron from the second page the reason why your one side feels weaker is cause thats where your lip has formed a pocket i have one and learned its not my lip actaully gone but still i want to quit!

Comments continue below

Flex | 10:05 p.m. April 20, 2008

i am 16 and have been chewing for about 2 years and i dont plan on quitting anytime soon. i chew anything i can get if i have to go see my P.O. then i will chew pouches so i dont get caught. i chew at skool, football games and practices, and baseball games and practices

Southern Trucker | 6:53 p.m. April 25, 2008

I started chewing in high school. I am a 23 year old truck driver that always told myself that I didn't have an addictive personality. I find myself driving down the road holding a can for a while that I didn't remember picking up. I chew because it takes the edge off and I like it but, I also like my jaw (guess I want my cake and eat it too). Guess it's back to the sunflower seeds!

john | 10:05 a.m. April 27, 2008

i have been dipping for about a year and a half now almost all the guys in my family do it im a country boy from ohio and only 14 my dad has done it for 31 years and still no problems so i plan on doin it for a long time cause i love the taste and smell and it is something i enjoy doing

"the angry american" | 9:25 a.m. April 28, 2008

look yall i am a pure country boy born and raised in the great state of louisiana! i grew up around people who dip, smoke, and chew tobacco. i started smokin when i was 10 yeasrs old, i started dippin and chewin when i was 14 years old. i am now 15 years old with pre-cancer in all of my mouth, it aint worth it yall. i know i love the smell and taste of it but for god sakes it at worth it at all. i know yall say its peer pressure and all that and u wanna be cool. but if u wanna be cool, dont dip, chew or smoke. thank yall for readin this

GIT-R-DONE YALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-"The Angry American"

Matt | 5:41 p.m. April 28, 2008

Im 14. i dipped all last summer pretty heavily. I quit and then went back to it during baseball season. I got caught by my parents. they found it in my bag. i had many cans all over the house. i then had no choice but to quit. i went a week. it got harder every day. i missed the taste, i missed everything about it. i tried sunflower seeds and tea bags and all sorts of things. i now am trying some herbal snuff trying to recreate the taste. i hope this will work. thank you for reading this, anyone who did.
god bless

cody | 12:55 p.m. April 30, 2008

Im 17. ive been chewing for 4 years. for me chewing is the best thing that has ever happened to me. for those that want to quit, shame on you all. for those who have never tryed it i only have two words for you TRY IT!!! Ive been around chewing my hole life so it just came natural for me and i think everyone should try it at least once. !!!GRIZZLY WINTERGREEN RULES!!!!

Cody | 1:05 p.m. April 30, 2008

I LOVE CHEWING!!!

Shawn FL | 6:48 p.m. April 30, 2008

I quit 9 days ago, the first three days where rough,however I feel better everyday. Copenhagen is not a city!! Its cancer in a can.

chase | 10:08 a.m. May 1, 2008

my name is chase i have been dippin since i was 12 i am now 16 i have no problems with my lips and i dip about 1 can a day of grizzly and skoal edge

trevor h | 8:29 a.m. May 2, 2008

i'v been dippen since i was 10 and an now 14 and still dippen i will probily neverquit but i dip eather cope snuff or red seal natural long cut and i love the taste and i love it when im worken, hunten, fishen it just keeps me goin i just cant stop its hard to stop when everyone around u is dippen like ur cousins dad brother uncles and thier allways asken me if i want a pinch so i take one i dip about a can every two days

Sage | 1:42 p.m. May 2, 2008

I have been dipping for about 2 years now i started when i was 13. I have been chewing on my lower part but now i moved it to my upper just to give my lower jaw a brake for now. I should stop but it is so addicting. In school the teachers just dont notice if it is at the top so i just chew in school and out everyday. But i am afraid of getting cancer.

alex | 2:41 p.m. May 2, 2008

DO NOT SMOKE. I bet you've heard the befor. Well it's true because smoking can kill u or you can get cancer and then die. I know i will never smoke because it messes ur life up and once u start u can't go back. You may not care now but wait till the doctor tells u u have cancer. Then u'll care.

patrick | 12:47 p.m. May 3, 2008

cancer doesnt happen to everyone its the persons choice to chew so people dont tell other people how to live there lifes are they hurting you while they chew no so dont worry about them and worry about yourself cause no one is perfect im 16 i started chewing when i was 14 in ice hockey my dentist said my gums are as clean as is i dip half a can of cope a day so my gums are fine your's maybe arent but it doesnt happen to every one my uncle chews two cans of snuff a day for 35 years and his gums are fine so its the person choice if they want to dip quit telling people what to do and maybe try it before you judge it

Andrew | 10:52 a.m. May 4, 2008

i have just started dipping in the past two months. i dont do it that much yet i still feel a little craving for it when someone has some. i dipped last night nd my gums hurt real bad and after reading this i am stopping for could. thanks for your help

daniel | 3:55 p.m. May 4, 2008

a Lot of the kid in my welding shop do dip and I feel pressured to do dip tomorrow i said i buy to tins of timber wolve tebacco and give it a shot but i dont wanna feel like a pussy.they'll make fun of me if i dont dip and i just want to be accpet BUT I DONT WANT TO THROW AWAY MY LIFE !!!! somebody please email for suggestion

Steve Doug | 8:59 a.m. May 5, 2008

Im 16 years old now and been dippin for about 2 years strong. I love the taste of that Skoal Wintergreen that i want to and need to quit but i just cant. I play baseball and all my buddies do it and every time i see them do it i want one too. So i get one or two maybe even six dependin on the mood im in and on how the coach is actin on that day.

Carter | 9:26 a.m. May 5, 2008

I'm 15 years old and dip snuff, its easy to get around here where i come from. I had my first at about12 and started at 13, im trying to quit but its pretty tough. A little tip that might help other fellas that chew is to try sunflower seeds. They're helping, slowly but surely.

Jason | 1:14 p.m. May 5, 2008

Is it me or is there a trend with these posts? Everyone seems to be under the age of 15, do not know how to make sentences, and can't spell.

Duderstadt | 8:47 a.m. May 6, 2008

I have been dipping for about 2 years now and i know im addicted and need to quit. I dip about 1 can every 2 days and it's horrible and sickens me. All the comments from everyone has posted inspired me to quit. I know how hard it is because i've tried for about 5 days and couldn't stand it anymore and fell right back into my old ways. The coffee grains is a great idea and im gonna try it out. Quitting is the hardest thing i've ever tried but today im done with the snuff. Good luck to everyone that is trying to quit.

Brett | 8:06 p.m. May 7, 2008

Im 16 and ive been dippin for about 2 years now. i have these sores in my mouth that i keep biting off. im reallly paranoid about them and i think im gunna quit. thanks guys for this cause dippin aint worth dien for.

Zach | 11:19 p.m. May 8, 2008

Okay, I accidently might have two comments because I thought my first one didn't get on there. But the message in both is the same, don't start, it's not worth it. Thanks!

Rickey | 6:54 a.m. May 10, 2008

I really appreciate all of these stories. i have been chewin for a while, and after reading this, once i finish my can, ill try my best to quit. its just do hard, when your drivin down the road, and you have nothin to do anymore.. as you can tell, ive tried to quit before, and after looking at this guy's picture, im definetly going to try harder. if i coul det any posative support, i would greatly appreciate it. thank you.

Josh Fishburne | 12:34 p.m. May 14, 2008

Ya i do it and its great

Dan | 9:52 a.m. May 15, 2008

I'm 32, started dipping around 16 and have dipped on-and-off since then. I recently quit and really want to stick with it, though I know the craving may always be there. I was a "careful" dipper (always washed out my mouth when I was done, brushed 3 times a day, never swallowed the spit), so I really justified the habit for years. I'm not going to sit here and tell you what to do and neither should your loved ones. Trust me when I say, though, that it's very addicting. Many of us avoid other bad habits because you can't really function in your daily life with...heavy drinking, drugs, even smoking to some degree. Chewing tobacco, unfortunately, seems to be more user-friendly to us as functional people. I just came to terms with the fact that continuing the habit was more-or-less playing chicken in traffic. Only a matter of time.

If I have one bit of advice: accept that it's very difficult to quit and go from there. Every time I've thought I just "won't buy a can today"...well, I'd always buy a can "first thing tomorrow" because I thought I had demonstrated my willpower. Yeah. Right.

Dustin | 2:04 p.m. May 20, 2008

i started chewing when i was 17. i managed to keep it quiet with everyone close to me. 9 months ago my wife found out i chew and wanted me to quit. i tried for her and failed and made another attempt 5 months later. Was doin well and bought a can of Grizzly snuff took two dips of it and got a sore im my mouth. Im 25 now and im waiting to go to the dentist tomorrow to have him tell me that i dont have cancer growing on my lower gum. im scared to death. if im cancer free or not im for sure done. its not worth it to myself or my love ones.

Rich | 3:47 p.m. May 20, 2008

Trying to quit the can is the hardest battle I have ever faced in my life. It sounds crazy, but it's true. I have been chewing for only 3 years and have tried many times to quit. I always see commercials and adds offering support and products for those people trying to quit smoking but hardly see anything for those of us trying to quit the can. Mint snuff has been a good alternative and has helped lead me in the right direction toward being completely quit. Once you have made the decision to quit, it is just a matter of time before you are successful.

snocker | 5:07 p.m. May 21, 2008

now do u guys dip every day or just once in a while

Dallas | 2:48 p.m. May 22, 2008

Im only 13 and i chew skoal berry blend all the time and i started when i was 10 i know its very disapointing that im only 13 and ive tryed many times to stop i need some advice!!!:)

South Carolina | 5:13 p.m. May 26, 2008

I started dipping a month ago and I only did it once every now and then from my friends. I just now got my own can of Grizzly Wintergreen and I am now starting to feel the effects of addiction. Now everytime I am bored I want to dip. I am only sixteen years old. Any suggestions for quitting?

john | 1:36 p.m. June 4, 2008

im 13 ive only dipped skoal like 4 times...very little dips too...my tounge is sour and numb a lil looks normal but its numb...no spots in my mouth or anything... could it be from chew...could it be cancer plx right back...last time im ever chewin

Dan | 4:33 a.m. June 5, 2008

Some of these posts have to be tobacco company shills. I mean it's pretty damn obvious, they are all written to play on kids insecurities while at the same time strategically placing brand names throughout the post. The make a few spelling and grammatical errors for good measure and trick a few kids into using tobacco.

Now I don't chew tobacco but I have tried it. I do smoke cigarettes however and I am a recovering drug addict. I am 24 years old and have 2 years clean. I was a full blown heroin addict at 17 and binged on any and every drug I could get my hands on. As hard as it was to stop getting high it now seems easy compared to the task of quitting smoking. I have been wanting to quit for over a year now but I just can't do it.

Don't be mad at me though, I am just telling it like it is. Tobacco is pointless and every single person I know that uses it wishes they never started as a kid because it's so hard to stop now. Just don't come crying to me when your life is in shambles.

keldog | 2:55 p.m. June 5, 2008

I am 34 and have chewing for about 14 years, I started when I was on long road trips playing hockey. I have attempted to stop numerous times and have failed numerous times. I know I am addicted, but it is something I love. I love that people think its gross, but my kids want me to stop. Does anyone have any ideas for quiting.

Christie | 10:49 a.m. June 6, 2008

I am an ex-smoker and a dental hygiene student and I know first-hand how difficult it is to give up nicotine. Whether it is cigarettes or smokeless tobacco is of little importance, the outcome is the same. They both destroy the tissues they come in contact with, just as if they were battery acid. There is nothing safe about either of these products and I hope stories like Benders will inspire people to give up these toxic chemicals! If you are trying to quit, Dont give up!! Everyday you give your body a chance to heal is progress!

quitter | 11:59 a.m. June 7, 2008

Man, the scariest part of reading all of these testimonies is the age of most of you. I couldn't believe how young most of you are yet, when I thought back to when I started, I was the same age. Started at 16 (highschool sports), quit about 9 days ago for the who knows how manyeth time. I'm 32.

It's encouraging to hear that, according to most of you, the hardest days are almost over. Tried some of the herbal chews, didn't seem to work for me. I've found 5 to 10 pieces of gum in the lip helps and, when cravings are bad, add a piece of nicorrette. Nothing really works as well as I'd like. Just can't match the flavor and feeling.

Always had a dip in. Like most have said, I associated it with everything I did: driving, work, after eating, spending time with friends.

For you younger folks: we may sound like fools. I remember thinking that I would never get that bad, that addicted. It happened before I could realize it. No cancer yet but I will always have it in my head that it's possible. Could show up at any time.

STOP NOW

Anonymous | 11:22 a.m. June 10, 2008

Hi Craig, I have been on the American Cancer Society as surivor co-chair for two years now. In 2009 I will be starting my own team with the mission of tongue cancer. I am looking for any information regarding this, But I want to gear towards young ones. Teens. Tongue cancer is on the rise due to chewing tabacco. Do you know of any teen I could contact to get his or her oppinion of this all? Please contact me at the address below. And I admire you for continuing to spread the word of this dangerous disease. Be well. Michele

Anonymous | 11:25 a.m. June 10, 2008

RICK...... please forgive me for writting the name Craig... it was the name of one of the people who posted, and I had just read it before I posted my note! Sorry. Michele

brandon | 10:41 p.m. June 20, 2008

ive been chewing since i was 15 now i am 17 and i go through about 1 can a day and ive tried to stop but just cant. ive collected all of my cans that ive chewed and its over 275 and i look at them everyday and think of the consequences but it just doesnt seem to help. my dad also chews and we started when he was 14 and he is now 43 and nothing has happend so mayb ill be ok

Andy t | 6:44 p.m. July 5, 2008

Its all fun and games until someone loses there life

Jason | 4:32 p.m. July 17, 2008

i started chewing when i was 15a i'm now 18 and i have been "sober" for about a month, the best way to quite i think is to have a close friend of yours stop with you, it will give you alot of will power, yeah i'm still pissed off all day and still crave it but it will eventually stop, quitting is 50% mental power too you know

mike | 12:00 p.m. July 21, 2008

hi my name is mike ive ben chewing for 1 year been starting to feel more and more addicted to chewing tobacco i used to just do it with my baseball buddies but then i ended up buying some and then buying some more and it just kept going this product is higly addictive im curently trying to stop i havent done it in 2 weeks so far and these stories that some of you guys put up motivate me into stoping

Anonymous | 9:02 p.m. July 24, 2008

yes

wesley | 6:55 p.m. July 27, 2008

hello....dont chew it is gross,and nasty. if you want to end up looking like these people go ahead no girlfriends and boyfriends for you boys and girls i dont chew because i want to live as long as i can smoking is bad to so dont smoke or chew...please....

marissa | 7:03 p.m. July 27, 2008

don't chew you will get lung cancer and mouth cancer and die a whole lot faster. i would live as long as i could and not die as fast.

SJG#2 | 9:42 p.m. July 27, 2008

iv been dipping for about 7months now.. the only reason i chew is to literally help pass time during the school and baseball seasons.. does that chew with no tabacco really help?

William | 1:42 p.m. July 29, 2008

I've been spitting since i was 14 and Im 26 now. I have tried to stop but everytime I had tried to, I would start to get migraines. I then would put in a dip and my migraine would go away. I would love to quit, but find it hard to due to the migraines. Any sugestions?? perkinswillm@yahoo.com

Kevin | 2:45 p.m. July 30, 2008

The first time I did Copenhagen was in 1976 in US Navy bootcamp, San Diego, Ca. at the age of 19.
Back then, there was no long cut or pouches, just regular cut.
I have been addicted ever since then, although I did quit several times, sometimes for a year or two, but always seemed to start up again.
Now I have been tobacco free since last February of this year. I am now 51 years old.
This time it was alot harder to make up my mind to quit, but I just kept thinking... I don't want to end up in the hospital, bed ridden and getting radiation treatments or surgery for cancer.
(Seen this way too much)
It has been about a half year now since I quit.
Here is what I did to quit:
1. Make up my mind to do it.
2. Nicotine Patches for first month.
3. Started using tea bags as a substitute, kind of like doing pouches, many flavors to choose from, get almost anywhere. Some have caffine in them for a little boost of energy too.

Good luck to you all!
Kevin

smith09 | 10:02 a.m. July 31, 2008

been dippin for 3 years and love the stuff keep on dipping.

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Stuart Johnson, Deseret News

Former baseball player Rick Bender speaks at UVSC about surviving oral cancer caused by chewing tobacco. He lost part of his tongue and jaw in surgeries.