Through With Chew Week is Feb. 14-20

Posted on: 2/12/21

Through With Chew Week (TWCW) is a tobacco observance that educates on the dangers of smokeless tobacco and aims to support chew, dip, and snus users who are wanting to quit. In Oklahoma, 6.8% of adults and 5.7% of high school students use smokeless tobacco, which is higher than the national average. 

Smokeless tobacco is highly addictive; an average sized dip in your mouth for 30 minutes delivers as much nicotine as three or more cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco causes a variety of health issues including cancer of the mouth, throat, cheek and gums, and contributes to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Dental issues such as gum disease, recession of the gums, tooth decay, mouth sores and leukoplakia are also associated with smokeless products. 

Patients and employees who want to quit dip, snus, snuff or other tobacco products can be proactively referred to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline by a health care provider or can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. The Hospitals Helping Patients Quit (HHPQ) team at OHA is available to help you set up evidence-based tobacco treatment programs for your employees and patients. 

Some ideas on how to observe TWCW at your hospital/clinic: 
• Ensure that your tobacco free campus policy is up to date and includes smokeless tobacco products.
• Provide information about the dangers of smokeless tobacco and resources for quitting on your social media platforms, intranet, employee newsletters, etc.
     > If you would like premade social media content for TWCW, click here to download or email [email protected].
• Allow employees to trade in dip cans and other smokeless tobacco products for an incentive. 
     > Incentive ideas: tins of mints, water bottle, beef jerky 
     > Provide information on insurance benefits for cessation counseling and medications
     > Refer employees to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and support employees with smokeless tobacco resources  
• Celebrate the success of employees who have previously quit chew, dip, snuff, snus. 
     > Recognize them in a newsletter or at a meeting
     > Provide them with a healthy snack to celebrate

The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) supports OHA’s Hospital Helping Patients Quit and the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. (Meagan Carter)