Our standpoint
The adverse health effects of tobacco use, at least in the Western World, is primarily related to inhalation of smoke. Scientific data clearly demonstrate that the health risks associated with the use of Swedish Snus are significantly lower than those of cigarette smoking.
Data from Sweden show that snus assists smoking cessation. Swedish studies also show that the existence of snus has rather been a contributing factor to that less people is taking up smoking. Swedish males have a record low risk of dying from a tobacco-related disease although the total tobacco consumption in Sweden does not differ from other countries.
We are convinced that Swedish Snus, as manufactured by the Swedish Match GothiaTek® quality standard, plays an important role in harm reduction strategies, as has been demonstrated by several Swedish studies. Snus provides a sensible alternative to cigarettes and other smoking products, foremost because it does not deliver toxic pyrolysis products.
We do not claim that the use of Swedish Snus could not have any adverse health effects and we do recognise that the use of snus raises serious questions that need to be addressed. For example, there are continuing issues with nicotine dependence and the possible role of nicotine in special populations such as during pregnancy and for those with cardiovascular disease.
If one believes that A Tobacco Free World simply will not happen within a foreseeable future, a pragmatic harm reduction strategy needs to be developed in order to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of tobacco use. The primary goal of such a strategy should be to reduce the negative consequences of tobacco use without requiring total abstinence from nicotine. In such a strategy Swedish Snus by GothiaTek® can play an important and constructive role.