LETTER — New tobacco products pose old danger to young people

Snus, orbs, sticks, strips, oh my! What are these, you might ask? Some of the new and creative ways tobacco companies are targeting a new generation to become dependent on nicotine. Recently, with the help of local youth from the Holland, Grand Haven and Hudsonville areas we took a look at some of the new and emerging trends in tobacco here in Ottawa County.

What did we find? After visiting 17 venues, including gas stations, grocery stores, drug stores and convenience stores, we found of course many of the age-old tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, chew, etc. But we also found some of the new, emerging tobacco products. Among the most popular was snus, a product similar to chew/spit tobacco. Snus is a smokeless tobacco product, packaged in little pouches that can be placed in the mouth or in some cases swallowed — very much like chew/spit tobacco, but without the mess. It is sold in a variety of flavors like “winterchill” and “frost,” flavors that remind me of chewing gum intended to freshen your breath, with tag lines like “bar friendly” and “enjoy anytime, anywhere, it’s limitless.”

As communities stand together committed to smoke free environments, the tobacco companies are changing their tactics, marketing these new products as “smoke-free” and as “safer” alternatives to smoking. But what they are really doing is just filling our minds, and especially the minds of youth, with a lot of smoke.

This is another great opportunity for parents and other caregivers to be having conversations surrounding the truth behind smoking/nicotine addiction and its harmful effects. For resources on this topic please visit www.miottawa.org/health

Heather Alberda

Ottawa County Health Department

Holland Township