Leopards chewing good in the hood

illustration by Adam Omernik

by Ken Colby
Staff Writer

One of the fastest growing tobacco trends is becoming popular with students at the University of La Verne and could possibly affect them in a negative way.

However, it is not smoking. It is “Dip” or chewing tobacco.

According to Cindy Denne, director of student health services, there are an estimated 20 million chewing tobacco users in the United States, and the average user is between the ages of 18 and 25.

Dip is the most common form of smokeless tobacco, followed by chewing tobacco.

Dip is typically a shredded form of tobacco that looks similar to coffee grounds and is placed between the gum and lip, where it dissolves.

It is known to be a little stronger than chewing tobacco and can leave you with a lightheaded feeling, or a buzz you might get from drinking one beer.

Chewing tobacco, which is commonly called “chew,” is composed of large pieces of shredded tobacco leaves, which are placed in the cheek and chewed.

Denne said that smokeless tobacco delivers more nicotine to one’s bloodstream than cigarettes.

She said nicotine is a highly addictive drug, nearly as addictive as cocaine.

According to Denne, smokeless tobacco can lead to a number of health problems, including cancer, gum recession, bone loss around the teeth, abrasion of the teeth as well as bad breath and stained teeth.

Alex Rodriguez, a junior, started chewing tobacco when he was 15 years old.

“It started as a social thing. My friends did it, so I joined in,” Rodriguez said. “It helps relax me, when I get stressed I just put in a pinch and I’m good.”

This form of tobacco is not new, but is a growing trend among ULV students.

“When I came to ULV, very few people did it, so I stopped for a while. Then, earlier this year, I found out my friends were doing it so I started again,” Rodriguez said.

Doug Green, a student athlete, has been dipping on and off since he was 16.

“I guess I started dipping because I was bored one day when I was hanging out with my friends in high school, and I’ve been around it my entire life since my dad dips,” Green said. “I can quit cold turkey, I just choose not to. When you quit you always crave it; you just have to have the will power not to do it.”

Dip has often been associated with athletes, players and managers.

Even fans could be seen spitting out a mouth full of tobacco juice.

Athletes at ULV are no exception. Players can be seen walking around on campus with a cheek or a lip full of dip.

“Dip has no effect on me as an athlete. I don’t dip while I’m playing, but during the season it has no effect at all on me,” Green said.

According to Denne smokeless tobacco users may have slower learning and adjustment to new requirements, slower and more irregular movements, and less accurate overall performance compared to non-smokers.

Whether athletes believe that they are affected when using smokeless tobacco, they are mistaken, it will have many silent effects, she said.

Among the increase in smokeless tobacco users are female athletes between the ages of 18 and 25, however they often do not chew the tobacco, but put it in their armpits and between their toes where it saturates through the skin and into the bloodstream.

They believe by doing this way they will get all the benefits of the tobacco without adverse affects of chewing it.

“They not only risk addiction but run other health risks in the areas of use, for example if someone uses tobacco in between their toes they may develop skin rashes, loss of skin,” Deborah Parsons, assistant professor of movement and sports science, said.

“Smokeless tobacco does not mean harmless tobacco,” Denne said.