MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Smoking can kill, but nicotine addicts might have a healthier outcome if they choose a smokeless form of tobacco according to Jeff Stier, Esq., Associate Director of the American Council on Science and Health.
“If you don’t use tobacco, you shouldn’t start because none of it is good for you on any level,” Stier of New York City said. “But there are in fact different forms of tobacco that will affect you differently.”
Statistics from the American Council of Science and Health show that more than 400,000 smokers die each year from smoking-related diseases.
Stier was one of six panelists of the Tobacco Harm Reduction Forum who met Monday night in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center to debate tobacco and the controversies that linger about what health impact smokeless tobacco has compared to smoking cigarettes. While Stier was adamant that smokeless tobacco would not cause devastating diseases such as emphysema, lung cancer and heart disease, all other members of the panel stood their ground that tobacco in any form should be avoided under all circumstances.
Sherry Bailey of the American Cancer Society told the audience about her organization’s stance on the issue.
“Our personal stand is there is not a safe alternative to smoking, and if you are not smoking, then don’t start,” Bailey said.
Another panelist who disagreed with telling the public to try smokeless tobacco as an alternative was Arnell Washington, a rural health specialist for the southwest region of the Arkansas Department of Health.
Washington said if someone has a problem with tobacco in any form they should work with counselors to get help quitting because quitting would be the only way to know their health would not be impacted by the addictive substance.
“Smokeless tobacco is harmful and can cause harms such as cancer of the tongue where they might have to remove a portion of your tongue,” Washington said. “Tobacco is just harmful regardless of which way you go.”
Upon a request from the audience, Washington presented numerous statistics about tobacco in Arkansas gathered through the Arkansas Department of Health such as Arkansas has the third highest tobacco-related death rate in the nation; secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death in Arkansas and 100 Arkansans die each week from causes related to smoking, which is 5,200 people per year.
Despite the spirited debate, members of the panel seemed to leave the meeting with their original opinions intact about the different types of tobacco and the potential harm that would be caused by developing a habit with them.
Stier, who has a friend named David, 40, who has smoked for 25 years and can not seem to quit through counseling, using a patch or being hypnotized, asked why smokeless tobacco could not be considered a more humane choice for people who fit into this category.
“I just want to tell him to try (smokeless tobacco) because I don’t want to go to his funeral in five years,” Stier said.
Other panelists included Judy Hines, director of University Health Services and SAU students, Andrew Musgrove and Jennifer Rutherford.
The panel discussion was immediately followed by a reception.
