According to Martina Zetterkvist at CAN, the Central Association for Alcohol and Narcotics Information, a clear change can be seen in the use of white snus among young people aged 17-29, especially women.
– We see that it is about equally common among men and women to use white snuff, which is in complete contrast to tobacco snuff, which is significantly more common among men.
The government introduces an 18-year age limit
According to Zetterkvist, it is also becoming more common for girls in grade nine and high school to try white snuff before other nicotine products, such as cigarettes and regular tobacco snuff. Several young people testify that the white snus is often presented as a “fresher” alternative with good flavors.
– I think it is perceived as a little nicer because it is tobacco-free, that it is seen as a lighter snus, says 24-year-old Tovalisa Dunker.
On 1 August, an 18-year age limit will be introduced when purchasing tobacco-free nicotine products such as white snus. Likewise, restrictions on how packaging and marketing may look to make the products less appealing to young people.
It we about how health is affected
White snus is a tobacco-free product that contains nicotine. However, the substance nicotine itself originally comes from the tobacco plant, but can be extracted without getting the tobacco.
Are there any health risks with white snus?
– Nicotine itself is an addictive neurotoxin. Nicotine in its pure form is forbidden to use as 0.5 to 1 gram is fatal to humans. In snus, however, you only ingest milligram amounts, says Hans Gilljam, professor emeritus in tobacco prevention at the Karolinska Institutet.
As white snus has not been around for very long, it is difficult to say for sure what health risks it has besides being addictive, according to him.
– It is known that it is less dangerous than smoking cigarettes. With cigarettes, however, the worst effects come after many years of smoking. We can therefore say with certainty what effects white snus has in perhaps 30 years. But because it contains nicotine, we know that it affects the body, especially pregnant women and fetuses.
According to The Public Health Authority In addition to addiction, nicotine can have negative effects on, among other things, the heart and blood vessels.