Smokeless tobacco products not safe: Study

WASHINGTON - Smokeless tobacco products are not safe or effective alternatives for people who want to quit smoking, say experts.

According to analysis of several studies, long-term use of smokeless tobacco products such as dry or moist snuff increases the odds of suffering a fatal heart attack or fatal stroke.

The statement regarding the study has been published in the journal of The American Heart Association.

“No tobacco product is safe to consume. Smokeless tobacco products are harmful and addictive - that does not translate to a better alternative,” said Mariann Piano, lead writer of the statement and a professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Smokeless tobacco is being used more by teenage boys, says the statement.

“Scientists and policy makers need to assess the effect of “reduced risk” messages related to smokeless tobacco use on public perception, especially among smokers who might be trying to quit,” Piano concludes. (ANI)