"Through With Chew Week" Highlights the Dangers of Smokeless Tobacco
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 15, 2024) – This year’s Through With Chew Week, Feb. 18-24, is dedicated to educating Oklahomans of the dangers smokeless tobacco, or “chew,” poses to users. Tobacco Stops With Me, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), encourages Oklahomans to avoid harmful tobacco products and advocates for a tobacco-free future.
“Smokeless tobacco is often perceived as a healthier alternative to smoking, but it poses deadly risks to users,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “We’ve seen firsthand the horrible effects tobacco can have on the lives of Oklahomans and offer them information and resources to live tobacco-free lives.”
Smokeless tobacco is even more addictive than cigarettes because it contains up to four times the nicotine found in cigarettes. Holding an average-size dip in the mouth for 30 minutes releases as much nicotine as smoking three cigarettes — two cans a week results in the same nicotine consumption as a pack-a-day smoker. Plus, smokeless tobacco contains at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals and can cause oral, pancreatic and esophageal cancer.
Ronnie Trentham was a former smokeless tobacco user who dedicated his life to speaking out against these harmful products after he was diagnosed with tobacco-related cancer. Ronnie was featured in testimonials for the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and Tobacco Stops With Me. His story inspired countless Oklahomans to quit tobacco and fight against its dangers. Although he lost his cancer battle in 2023, his message and inspiration live on.
This Through With Chew Week, TSET encourages Oklahomans to raise awareness of the dangers of smokeless tobacco. Oklahomans who struggle with smokeless tobacco addiction can find support from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline by calling 1-800-QUIT NOW or visiting OKhelpline.com.
To create a healthier, tobacco-free future for our state, Oklahomans are encouraged to learn about these products’ harms, quit tobacco and stand up against the tobacco industry’s influence. To learn more about the harms of tobacco in our state, visit StopsWithMe.com.
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The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients or employees live tobacco free. Funding is primarily provided by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has had more than half a million registrations since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years by the North American Quitline Consortium.
Tobacco Stops With Me is a statewide campaign, funded through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Trust, that provides an efficient, emotional and highly recognizable tobacco-free message for Oklahomans to rally around. By educating the public about the negative effects and impact of tobacco, the goal of Tobacco Stops With Me is to prevent and reduce tobacco use, improving the health and quality of life for all Oklahomans. Tobacco Stops With Me aims to inspire individuals to make positive changes—not only for their own health, but for the health of the entire state as well. Free resources and more information at StopsWithMe.com.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.
TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health