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Evils of 'chew' stressed

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John | 1:48 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

I am 14 and i have dipped since i was 9 or 10. and I love it, I started out on coppenhagen but now i am a grizzly man and i just wanted to say that even though it can cause cancer that dosent mean your going to get it, i know a guy that is 54 yrs old and he has chewed his whole life, nothing is wrong with him. and i am just like the guy at the top that stated that he starded beacause he grew up on a farm, i grew up on a farm and everyone either smoked or dipped i couldnt handlesmoke when i was little so i started dipping. and to tell ya the truth i dont mind it, i enjoy doing it so i guess somethings gott kill me dont it

Mike | 12:12 a.m. Aug. 10, 2008

I started last year with smokeless tobacco's and man I've been trying to quit, I can stop for a week but the very next week it seem's I'll have a can in my pocket. I check for cancer spots, so far so good, but I gotta quit before I do get cancer. My father is almost 50 and he's been using smokeless tobacco since he was about 14, his mouth his healthy but I know mine is diffrent.

Copenhagenjunkie | 1:11 p.m. Aug. 17, 2008

I have been dipping for about 2 Years. I started when i was 13 and now im 15. i have to get braces soon, i have quit for about 2 weeks now and it sucks. i Dipped Cope Straight and Skoal Straight. i miss the buzz but now i have started using Coffee Grounds from old coffee. it is gross but it is worth it. u get the same effect but no buzz. i suggest that anyone trying to stop dippin do it. take an old can and put the coffee grounds in that. it works trust me

Comments continue below

Rebecca | 6:12 p.m. Aug. 18, 2008

It's inspiring to hear that there are people out there who have chewed and chosen to quit. I have a boyfriend who chews, and I can see it's a pretty intense addiction. One thing you need to ask yourself is- why do I do it? What is the benefit. I have found in my years of helping people to overcome their addictions, that folks are simply trying to medicate themselves, numb out from strong emotions. Particularly men, because, sadly, our culture doesn't seem to allow men to express their feelings the way women do. It's unfortunate, really. What is the benefit of chewing? I ask that from a place of non-judgement- I just want to know what effect it has on the body? I can tell you, that as a ex-smoker, I feel so much better, healthier and happier now that I don't smoke. I had to learn healthy ways of coping with stress, like exercise, journaling, meditating, painting. I wish everyone the best with letting go of their addictions and embracing a healthy, whole life.

nate49u | 10:36 p.m. Aug. 18, 2008

I have dipped since I was 12 and now I am 23yrs old. I've tried quiting numerous times, cold turkey. It hasn't worked for me. I was diagnosed with severe acid reflex disease due to my excessive use of alcohol and chewing tobacco three yrs ago. I quit for three months and started back up again. I have been checked up at my dentist for sores that occur frequently, according to them they say its from my acid reflex and diet, lack of B-12etc... Now I'm not sure if their beating around the bush and not telling me I have cancer, but I have read the symptoms and looked at pictures and in the past 5 years I have experienced several of the symptoms described. I am paranoid about it but for some reason I still chew.

cags | 5:56 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Imagine having two beautiful children who adore you, a wonderful wife whom enjoys your company, a job that you actually enjoy to report to and a beautiful home to return to after a long day...

That is what lies in many of your futures, however, you will make choices now that will effect the lives of others in the future. I will tell you that if I realized what I have now ten years ago, I may not ahve married my husband. My life would have been very different.

With the most recent knowledge regarding cancer and the need to quit, he refuses. I can ask just so many times before it becomes nagging. I hope that he will not miss the important times in our children's lives, but most of all I am angry for his inability to realize that he leaving the children without a Father and is setting me up for the possibility of doing this alone. This type of disregard is a tribute to how difficult it will be in the future as this is not charcteristic of my wonderful Husband. His addiction is his issue, but is in control. It gets harder as you age.

Timmy | 1:30 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

im 14 iv been chewing since i was 9 and i tried to quit but when i see a can i gotta take a dip suxx..i wanna quit so bad..

Daniel | 3:40 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

I started chewing about 4 years ago after a night of drinking. I've tried multiple times to quit and although I have gotten better, I still cannot fully quit. As the years go by I get more and more worried that I will never be able quit. Reading this article and people's postings has definitely scard some sense into me. My goal is to stop before my 27th birthday on november 27th of this year.

cody | 10:50 p.m. Aug. 23, 2008

its grizzly season wintergreen all the way!!!!!

Travis D | 8:25 p.m. Aug. 26, 2008

I started dippin when i was 15 at football practice. I quit last year when i was hunting bc of the soreness in my mouth, well at least i thought that i quit. At the begging of January 2008 my Grandmama passed away from Liver Cancer. I had to find something to keep her off my mind so i wouldnt hurt so bad. I picked up Grizzly Wintergreen Longcut in Febuary of 2008 and I have been dipping ever since. I know i need to quit but it is just so hard to when all of your friends do it and all of you cousins do it. I am only 17 and i am fighting the biggest battle of my life by trying to quit. All of you people who think that its cool, its not i hate i ever picked the stupid thing up, but reading all of these comments has really helped me.God Bless

jordan phillips | 9:31 p.m. Sept. 1, 2008

my name is jordan and i have been dipping since i was 5 years old im now 20 and im trying 2 stop but its hard i was one of the ones who new it was bad snd dangerous but didn't care i always said you could leave your house and crash your car and die but now that i think about it i was dumb my little brother dips and i dont want for him to have cancer i am getting checked as soon as i can yall i would rather die in a car than by cancer i will pray for all the ones who dont stop or are having a hard time doing it i dont want my family to see me with cancer or git told i have it i never thought i would get it but now i dont know.

Jason | 9:32 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008

I've been dipping off and on for about 14 years. I've smoked in the past and I also consume alcohol. But I have to say there is nothing more addicting than chewing tobacco. (maybe hard drugs but I wouldn't know). I've quit dipping several times, but just like smoking when I have a beer or two I crave a dip. I may have to quit beer to quit dippping. I've been married for 5 years and its the one thing my wife doesnt know about me. I'd hate to be selfish and get cancer. I'm going to quit today. Wish me luck.

Sorry I Ever Started | 12:47 p.m. Sept. 5, 2008

I have been dipping for 30 years, luckily I have not had any issue, but know that I am not out of the woods. I have been cutting back and plan to quite, it is the hardest thing I have ever done. If you have only been doing it for a couple of years STOP!!!! now. you do not know what it is to need it at this point. I do not find happieness in dipping I wish I had never started. Don't be stupid, you would not hold a gun that someone handed you to you head and hope that is not loaded before pulling the trigger, so don't use tobacco in any form, it's te same thing!!!!!!!!

anonymous | 3:51 p.m. Sept. 14, 2008

I am 13 and just started using skoal and grizzly, already I have stoped but the temptation of a can can is sometimes just too strong if you have any compliements PLEASE leave one, thanks

anonymous | 4:01 p.m. Sept. 14, 2008

hey, i am 13 and just started doing skoal and grizzly about 3 weeks ago i have tried to stop but the temptation of a can around all my friends is sometimes just too hard i used to have my own can resently but i threw it out without my parents knowing these testimonies REALLY help if yall have any more or compliements PLEASE feel free to leave some thanks!!

gary | 3:44 p.m. Sept. 15, 2008

i chewed skool for 30 years and put it down for 10 years, took one chew it started all over, its hard to quit but the best way to quit is to stop cold, you will always crave it

Michael T | 1:46 p.m. Sept. 24, 2008

Look I know dipping is feels great, I have dipped tobacco for 4 years since I was 15 and Now I am 19. Let me just tell you this, I know not everyone will get cancer but a bunch of you will, I pray to God I will not and that he will forgive me for my mistakes. My Mother and Grandmother smoked all there lives and died from it, So I am telling you as a christian and as man who loves dip that quit, If you truly want to quit Break down on ur knees and truly pray for god to take the addiction away from you and He will I Know He will, He is an awesome God, Dip is good but it is not worth your life or putting the stress on your family and friends. God Bless You, hope all of you will realize what you need to do.

Dan | 8:44 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

People, let's get real !! I'm 27 and been chewing Cope long cut since 1997 and was going through a can a day for 7 years and I quit cold. I am blessed with loving wife and two wonderful children and it my responsibility as husband, a father, a son, a brother AND A MAN to be there for my family to raise, support and love. It is a true test of a man to walk his own path and do what right for himself and others. I don't mean to be up on a soap box preaching but it's true. Addiction is tough, i know, but cancer and death don't fit into my schedule anymore. To all of you chewers good luck and if you need more than that, there are medications like Chantix, which is designed for chewers. Chantix claims to have you off chew in "one week". Also there is herbal chew from Golden Eagle in which I heard was awesome.

KYLE | 2:49 a.m. Oct. 5, 2008

HELLO I HAD MY FIRST DIP WHEN I WAS 14 AND IM NOW 19 ALMOST 20. THE ONLY REASON I STARTED WAS BECAUSE I STOLE IT FROM MY 37 YEAR OLD COUSIN. THAT WAS ABOUT THE TIME WHEN I WAS ALSO TRYING CHEW, ALCOHAL, MARIJUANA, CIGARS, CIGARETTES AND ANYTHING I COULD GET MY HANDS ON BECAUSE THE ONES I LOOKED UP TO DID IT.BUT I WAS A REDNECK AND THOUGHT I HAD TOO. IM STILL HOOKED TO SCOAL PEACH LONGCUT AND MY GIRLFRIEND HAS EVEN THREATENED TO BREAK UP WITH ME. SHE MEANS ALOT TO ME!!!! I WANT TO QUIT SOOO BAD BUT I JUST CAN GET PASS A DAY WITHOUT. SO NOW IJUST SIGNED WITH THE NAVY AND LEAVE IN APRIL FOR BOOTCAMP WHICH I CANT HAVE IT THERE (WHICH IS ACTUALLY GOOD)

I JUST HEARD ABOUT THE HERBAL CHEWS AND WAS WONDERIND IF THEY HAD ANY LONG CUTS? IF ANYONE KNOWS OR KNOWS ANY OTHER HERBAL BRANDS OR QUITTING TRICKS OR JUST WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT, WE COULD HELP EACH OTHER. EMAIL ME AT HEELYMAN@COMCAST.NET I WOULD LOVE TO TALK!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE TAKE CARE AND TRY WITH ME-KYLE

Ben | 4:09 p.m. Oct. 7, 2008

I've dipped for seven months straight and have been off of it for one month. I'm in France right now and can't buy it here. The first two weeks getting off of it were hard because of cravings. When I come back to the U.S. in two months I'll test my willpower and see if I can stay off of it. A lot of my friends dip and I love to dip all sorts of flavored Skoal. I'm almost 21 and do not want cancer.

Kathie | 9:27 p.m. Oct. 12, 2008

ï¿½My Precious Fatherï¿½

Iï¿½m asking for 1000 names to be listed on this email before
Oct. 17, 2008.

Please donï¿½t delete it.
Itï¿½s a special gift of peopleï¿½s names who will be praying for my father.

Most whoï¿½ll receive this email havenï¿½t had the opportunity of meeting,
ï¿½My Precious Father.ï¿½

Heï¿½s a 72 year old retired barber who, during uncertain times, took on various other jobs to support a family of five. He served in the army as a young man and later he served on the police reserves in Mecklenburg Co. in N. C. He loves & trusts the Lord, just as my mom, which is where I received my Christian faith.

Dad has battled cancer since the beginning of 2008. He recently came home after spending three weeks in the hospital; which was his second surgery.

Dad faces another challenge!

Another tumor has appeared over his left upper lip which has to be removed.
His newly scheduled surgery date is Friday,
October 17, 2008.

Iï¿½m asking everyone to pray for him every morning the Lord allows us to wake up. With the Lordï¿½s help, dad will claim victory over this new challenge, reducing cancer to a distant memory.

Jeff | 8:40 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

I started dipping when I was 14. I quit for 14 years. I did a dumb thing. I was fishing with some guys and one was chewing, so I as for a chew. Well I loved it. I have been dipping now for 4 months. You would think someone 38 years old would have better smarts than that. I am on the internet right now looking for ways to quit. I fining harder now than I did the 1st time. When I get off this stuff this time I will not ever ask for a dip or chew from a pal again.

Danielle | 9:31 a.m. Oct. 20, 2008

WOW this really makes me not want to chew tobacco..... i know ken people that have chewed before but they quit before it got THAT badd.

Tim | 3:14 p.m. Oct. 21, 2008

I'm 45, been dippin 26 years with 3-4 yrs. total quit time in between. Probably quit over a dozen times, the longest for two years straight. Currently not dippin and have been very lucky with one benign byopsy and careful attention to every sore ( making sure they did not last over 11 days ) for all those years.
DON'T EVER START!!! if you've already started GOOD LUCK!!! Once addicted, alway addicted. When you quit you will even dream about it!
MARK: Watch those "high stress" times, get away from others that chew and ( I know it sounds insane ) keep that last empty can and when you feel like a dip take a big ol' wiff and congradulate yourself on being strong.
Hopefully we can ALL stay off this delicious CRAP!!!

Tim | 12:28 p.m. Oct. 25, 2008

I've been dipping for 15 years. I started off using a can a week and for the last 7 or 8yrs it's been 1 to 1 1/2 cans aday. I always said I'll quit when I get cancer and @29yrs old I had Kidney cancer and was very blessed that it was caught early. Because I thought that snuff had nothing to do with my Kidney cancer, 3yrs later I still put that crap in my mouth but resently I've met many young people that had kidney cancer and also dipped. Today, I will try my damnest to quit and I won't have that guilty feeling every time I put that crap in my mouth and maybe I will have quit soon enough to be able to watch my 2 kids growup.

Dakota | 6:59 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Im 16 ive been dipping copenhagen fin cut since i was 12 i went to the dentist last week and she told me I have pre-gum cancer my gums are white my teeth have black spots in it and I got sores all over my jaw and im onley 16 my Dad is 35 and he has been dipping since he was 11 and his teeth are fine. Its going to be hard to quiet cause all my friends dip and my family 2

Jac Ob | 3:43 p.m. Nov. 4, 2008

I've been using tobacco products since I was 15. I started off dipping for about a year and then I started smoking but didn't quit dipping for about another year. I currently only smoke but I roll my own cigarettes, they're filterless. To my point anyways, I've been trying to quit for a long time and I'm only 19. In my process of quitting I think not of what I'd lose but what others would lose if I were to die of cancer. Although sometimes I do think about how disfigured I would end up if I were to develop any cancer of the mouth or throat and how hard it would be to even have any friends let alone have/find a girlfriend without my bottom or upper jaw. What I'm saying is think about what you really love. Killing yourself for a 10 minute buzz everyday isn't worth it. It's hard to quit but in the end when you can say you quit it'll be even better than that "buzz". You may even leave people in awe, who knows.
Peace, be strong.

GP | 4:37 p.m. Nov. 4, 2008

I DIPPED FOR MAYBE 7 OR 8 MONTHS WHEN I WAS 16 MAYBE 2 TO 3 DIPS A DAY ON AVERAGE. IM 17 NOW AND QUIT 5 OR 6 MONTHS AGO. I AM SO WORRIED ABOUT CANCER NOW. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES I WILL GET CANCER?

FOR ALL OF YOU TRYING TO QUIT, JUST THINK ABOUT HOW RUINED YOUR LIFE WOULD BE WITH A DEFORMED FACE. THATS WHAT HELPED ME QUIT SO EASILY. PLEASE RESPOND TO MY ?. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

chew is good | 3:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2008

i love chew

tyler rice | 12:16 a.m. Nov. 6, 2008

dipping ir not bad 4 u it is actually good 4 u , if u like dippin dont quit becuz of these pple on this website they have no clue there jus sayin all of this stuff 4 money so jus keep dippin if u want to , dont listen to these pple, thx.

annoymous | 7:21 a.m. Nov. 6, 2008

well im a girl all i have to say is im scared i chewed for a bout 4 months now i have a sore in my mouth im freaked !!!!!!!!

Anonymous | 10:41 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

i dip cope whiskey skoal peach and vanilla. it takes me a month to go threw a can. i just dont do it often only when im bored or in the mood.
you all can dip just dont do it like crazy and yall be fine. most these ppl with cancer go threw 1-2-3 cans a day. thats 1-2-3 months for me ha
peace

johnny | 6:42 p.m. Nov. 11, 2008

i been dipping about 3 yers now i have a bump on my bottom lipp really bad sore throat numbness in my neck i decided to try to quit i been 0ff it for 10 days i cold turkyed it and it feela great everyone whos out there u should try to quit its not worth it in the long run thanks alot

anonymous | 4:36 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

my dad uses spitting tobacco. how can i get him to stop?

Pavol | 6:29 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

I dipped for 4 years, now i got a canker sour in my mouth, its healin and its only on day 4, but my tooth is right there and it keeps on openin up. I know people that dipped for 30 years and nothin, then some do it for a year and they have half a jaw. I want to stop, but then again, hockey players don't need teeth. no matter what, im still gonna stop.

Anonomous | 1:45 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

You know i have had pressure to chew too. People in my school, and on my hockey team chew. I just wanted to try it once to see what it is like. I dont think i will though considering all these testimonies. There are a lot of other alternitives.

scaredwife | 6:57 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

my hubby chews snuff and it scared me to death. god bless you for quitting

Tank | 10:20 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I haved chewed since i was 7 and now i am 16. I dip 4 to 5 cans a day and i dont plan on stopping anytime soon

mitchell | 6:32 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

if 15 and i dip every day this wont happen to me

Anonymous | 1:28 a.m. Nov. 23, 2008

In the past 2 or 3 months, I have done dip a total of about 10 times.

At first, it was just because it was there, and I was curious.

Then, I started to think its cool cause it gave me a buzz, and all my buddies were doing it.

I took one out tonight, and the gums where I had it in were bleeding a little bit. It's really scary to think about what is getting into our bodies, and what that stuff is doing to us...

I told myself tonight that I'm stopping, and made a deal with my friend. I just pray that I keep my promise, it is not worth it.

Joe | 8:07 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

ive been doin it 4 about a year its better than smoking if u play football

ChRiS | 1:51 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

dont do dip
please dont
idc who ur friends are
or who ur family is
just cuz u kno em doesnt put them or you above getting cancer
please stop
do it for those u love
and if u havent done it
then dont

todd | 7:11 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

started when i was 15. only had a couple dips a month to start. now 26 im up to a can every three days or more. ive done most other drugs and this is the hardest to quit. i started keeping a log of how much i use and how much i spend on it. on paper it looks worse then my mouth does. i get canker sores alot and awful breath all the time. i would advise everyone to never touch the stuff. it should be taken off the market. the less i do it the more symptoms of pre-cancer become apparent. just bought a can cause stress and withdraw became too much. cold turkey hasn't worked, neither have otc smoking suppressants. will power and fear of cancer have the most effect for quitting. changing routine hasn't helped either. Its stolen my face and wallet.

jake | 3:27 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

i'm 15 and a sophmore in high school and i'm basiclly a chew aholic. i've stoped at times when the dentist told me that i'm starting to show some sings. i've started chewin in my freshman year of high school. its kindof a redneck thang. well you suspect people that are rednecks to do it. i kno ppl that ain't rednecks and do it. i've also stoped couple times since some of my friends that are girls wanted me to stop, and whenever i have a gf she would want me to quit. but honestly i can't quit. my parents try and make me. but i can't. i don't do it around them. i just can't quick. it makes me feel better. even when i dont get the nicatine in me or the buzz anymore. sometimes when i'm just totally pissed i'd have like have the can of dip in my mouth. i just can't quit no matter how hard i try.

Scott From Ohio | 11:50 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Green tea actually helps prevent oral cancer. I have been dipping for 10 years and my brother for 20 years. If your trying to quit or at least want to help fight off the cancers I recommend drinking it to help you out. I can personally attest that it prevents the pain on your tongue and canker sores. Pick a different spot in your mouth to dip in each day. I'm not being proactive for snuff by any means, and in fact I wish I didn't ever start. I'm in the process of quitting actually. Do yourselves a favor and quit before you get anything, and if you do use drink lots of tea (swish it around to get the antioxidants in the rough areas), go to the dentist, move it around, and hopefully by the time you wise up it's not too late.

ricky lee | 12:05 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008

hey i will not stop dipping but it is bothering my mouth sometimes i don't know y but i am hooked on it i want to quit but i just cant.

David | 12:10 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Props to all you snuffers. Did yall no they came out with Redman dip, its delicious. Well I understand the consequences that follow tobacco use, and they are terrible. A good alternative to decerease mouth cancer are dip pouches.Although they tend to be more pricy than regular dip.

K | 6:55 p.m. Dec. 5, 2008

i have never dipped but my boyfriend does and i find it a mojor turnoff-his mouth tastes like an ashtray-im trying to gt him to stop but he says its to hard =[ (btw im 14 and he is 15)

jon | 10:44 a.m. Dec. 6, 2008

i've been dippin since i was 12 and now im 15, i kinda wanna quit but then again i dnt b/c of how it makes me feel, so i aint gonna quit.

Jamie | 7:44 p.m. Dec. 9, 2008

No way it is what i love to do and if i have to learn the hard way then maby i shall.

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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.