For many people, chewing tobacco is an occasional habit that starts in the early years of adult life and then becomes a true addition that can be incredibly difficult to quit.
Whilst chewing tobacco or using dip does not release smoke into the lungs, it typically releases higher volumes of nicotine into the mouth than cigarettes. In addition, the nicotine tends to stay in the blood for longer periods when compared to pipe or cigarette smoking.
Dipping can lead to a higher likelihood of developing mouth or throat cancers, and it is vital to consider ways to quit the habit as soon as you feel able. In this article, three unique sources of assistance will be explored that will help people to quit their chewing tobacco addiction.
1. Work-based schemes
Modern organizations put considerable value on the health and wellbeing of their workers and recognize that assistance and support may be required to quit addictive habits such as smoking or chewing tobacco.
Employers are increasingly offering their workforce comprehensive healthcare packages such as those supplied by Firstline healthcare and other providers in the benefits industry. These schemes use a card system that encourages members to make healthy life choices when shopping for groceries or accessing specialist health services.
The main assistance for staff looking to quit tobacco products is that many of the health benefits schemes include access to smoking or tobacco cessation services and the ability to purchase over-the-counter products from pharmacists that can help to quit tobacco products.
Speak to your employer to discuss what cessation products and services are available as part of your healthcare benefits plan.
This can be a key way to gain access to specialist healthcare advice and a range of products that may help to improve your chances of successfully quitting.
2. Exercise as a motivator
When quitting chewing tobacco, it is common to feel irritable, mildly depressed or anxious during the initial stages of withdrawal.
The effects of nicotine withdrawal can vary from person to person, but for most people, it can be a challenging and difficult experience. However, when quitting tobacco, it can be highly beneficial to start taking regular exercise or increasing the intensity of your existing routines.
Prolonged exercise releases dopamine and other types of “feel good” hormones in the brain. This can play a vital role in improving your mood and general outlook in the first stages of quitting tobacco and can help to make the process of nicotine withdrawal easier to manage.
3. Start a savings pot
It is estimated that a can of dip costs around $3, although prices may vary depending on the brand you use. If you use a can every day, you may be spending as much as $1,100 per year to satisfy your addiction! It can be highly motivating to start a savings pot when you first decide to quit tobacco.
Every day, put in the money you would have spent on dip or chewing tobacco and watch it accumulate over the weeks that follow. After a year, you may have accumulated enough from this pot to fund a holiday to a favorite destination or a luxury item that you may normally struggle to afford.
Use this savings pot as a motivator, as when combined with other sources of assistance, it can be a powerful tool to help you stay nicotine-free.
