The Great American Spit Out occurs in February of each year as a means to raise awareness of the dangers associated with smokeless tobacco. The next Great American Spit Out date is February 23, 2012! 
Unfortunately, the myths concerning smokeless tobacco are still in existence, giving tobacco users a false hope. 

Chewing smokeless tobacco contains 28 carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). The most harmful carcinogens are tobacco – specific nitrosamines. However, it is the nicotine in these products that cause the addiction. Nicotine absorption in smokeless tobacco products is 3 to 4 times that of smoking tobacco products and its slow absorption allows for a longer length of stay in the bloodstream.

 Quit Tobacco—Make Everyone Proud  (UCANQUIT2.org)

The Great American Spit Out (GASpO) on 23 February 2012 is a great time to step up to the challenge of quitting smokeless tobacco. Stay dip-free for 24 hours and get started on a tobacco-free future. Also get the facts   and see a downloadable flyer and posters   that urge service members to leave smokeless tobacco behind. Read more at the  official website of the U.S. Department of Defense-TRICARE® tobacco cessation campaign. Get help with quitting Call National Cancer Institute, 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848)

Click on poster to view in the Health Information Products eCatalog.

Take Dip Out of the Ballgame                                                                                                                                                                            Bobby Valentine, a former manager of the New York Mets speaks out about smokeless tobacco and the culture that it has on baseball. Imagine - if the baseball industry can change their culture than surely we can change also!  New York Times article. 

Tobacco jeopardizes the military by reducing the overall performance of the Soldier.

Common concerns are military readiness, war fighting ability and overall work performance. To combat smokeless tobacco use, several organizations, to include the American Academy of Otolaryngologists, have developed similar campaigns such as “Through with Chew” in conjunction with the Great American Spit Out. “Through With Chew,” a one week smokeless awareness campaign, also occurs in February and has a website that provides a variety of additional tools that help with putting a stop to smokeless tobacco use. 

If you or someone else that you know uses smokeless tobacco, here are a few steps to take either on the Great American Spit Out or as part of the quit plan:

·   Contact your healthcare provider to let him/her know of your decision to quit. There are medications that can help, if necessary.

·   Chew sugarless gum or have sugarless candy on hand for when you have an urge.

·   Drink plenty of water and use a straw to help with the need to chew.

·   Create your personalized  “To Do Lists” for each day in advance or simply keep busy when you have an urge.

·   Consider relaxation walks as part of your lunch time or work breaks.

·   Have an emergency support plan in place. Make Everyone Proud, also known as UCANQUIT2, has counselors available via telephone with supporting resources online.

·   Call a friend that will support your efforts of being tobacco free.