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PHONE HOTLINE: 1.866.SD-QUITS
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Help Others Quit

Supporting a loved one through their quit journey makes all the difference. Find FREE tips, resources and guidance to help someone you care about break free from tobacco. Together, you can help them quit for good.

Help Someone Quit
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Quit Today

South Dakota Quitline is a free Resource available to any state resident 13 or older. Choose from three ways to leave smoking, vaping, or chewing in the past. Quit, stay quit and breathe easy. 

Quit Today
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Youth & Young Adults

Children and young adults are especially vulnerable to loss of brain function as a result of vaping.
Even using e-cigarette devices without nicotine can cause damage. To protect your physical and mental health, it's time to quit.

Quit Today
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Tribal Toolkit

The Tribal Tobacco Advocacy Toolkit offers Indigenous communities culturally-informed resources and tools to support tobacco-free environments while honoring traditional practices.

Access the Toolkit

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Questions about quitting tobacco or need support? Reach out anytime—we're here to help you or your community on the journey to quit smoking, vaping or chewing tobacco.

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Chew, Dip & Other Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco can be just as harmful as smoking and e-cigarettes. Don't put yourself at risk of developing serious health problems.
Quit. Don't dip. 

CHEW, DIP AND ORAL NICOTINE USERS IN SD

Did you know that chew, dip and other smokeless tobacco use in South Dakota is higher than the national average? Smokeless tobacco, including chewing tobacco, dip and nicotine pouches, is just as harmful to your health as cigarettes. The only way to protect yourself from these consequences is to quit the habit for good.

Different types of smokeless tobacco/nicotine products include:

  • Pouches
  • Plug
  • Snuff
  • Snus

 

  • Spit
  • Chew
  • Chaw
  • Pinch
  • Dip
  • Dissolvables

Did you know? The biggest risk factor for oral cancer is tobacco.
Consider the Risks of Smokeless Tobacco

IS CHEWING TOBACCO BAD FOR YOU?

Yes. All smokeless tobacco, from chewing tobacco and dip to snuff and snus, can cause cancer of the mouth, esophagus and pancreas — plus gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss. They contain addictive nicotine and pack even more than cigarettes.

No smoke doesn't mean no harm. Here's what it does to your teeth, body and brain.

What Chewing Tobacco Does to Your Teeth and Gums

The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that of nearly 54,000 Americans to get oral oropharyngeal cancer this year, 9,750 will die. That adds up to one person every hour.

Other oral health symptoms caused by smokeless tobacco: 

  • Irritated or receding gums
  • High blood pressure
  • Cracked or bleeding lips
  • Excessive spitting
  • Red or white patches in the mouth

Between 60-78 percent of chewing tobacco users suffer from oral lesions — leukoplakia. These lesions are white patches that appear on cheeks, gums and tongue. They may also convert to oral cancer.

Flavored Dip & Smokeless Tobacco: Sweet Taste, Serious Risk

Unlike cigarettes, tobacco companies can add sweeteners and flavors to smokeless tobacco products, making it seem more appealing to young people. These companies regularly come out with new varieties of their products with increased health risks.

 

How much nicotine is in dip and chew?

Though many think that smokeless tobacco like dip and chew is safer than cigarettes or less addictive, it can actually be just as dangerous.

Since they contain nicotine, users are still exposed to the harms of nicotine addiction. Users often dip or chew constantly throughout the day, making them highly dependent on the drug.

Did you know?  
Dipping 8-10 times a day exposes the user to as much nicotine as smoking 30-40 cigarettes. That's more than two to three times the amount of nicotine.

 

Who Uses Dip and chew in South Dakota?

Ads typically depict rugged scenes with hunters, cowboys, racers and more, which are meant to appeal to rural populations and make them more susceptible to addiction. In South Dakota, spit tobacco use is highest among:
  • Young men
  • Native Americans
  • Farmers and ranchers
  • Rodeo/cowboys (men and women)
ARE NICOTINE POUCHES BETTER?

Nicotine Pouches vs. Dip: Is Switching a Way to Quit?

Thinking about trading your dip for nicotine pouches? Pouches skip the tobacco leaf, but they still deliver nicotine and keep the addiction going. No nicotine pouch product has been approved as a tool for quitting. There are no safe tobacco products, and that includes pouches. 

Ready to quit nicotine for good? Proven options like the patch, gum and lozenges are free through the SD QuitLine. Learn more about nicotine pouches, or if you've already switched, here's how to quit nicotine pouches.

Quitting Smokeless Tobacco

Ready to Quit Dip and Chew?

Ready to close the tin for good? Quitting dip and chew is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. Open a question below for quit tips, what withdrawal feels like and the free help available anywhere in South Dakota.

How do you quit chewing tobacco?

To quit chewing tobacco, pick a quit date, choose cold turkey or tapering, use nicotine replacement and plan swaps for your hands and mouth. A plan makes a tough quit easier.

Aim for a quit date within the next two weeks, ideally during a lower-stress stretch.

Cold turkey or taper? Some people quit chewing tobacco cold turkey. Others cut back first. Try leaving your tin at home or scaling back to half your usual amount. You can also push your first chew of the day back an hour at a time. Either way, expect some withdrawal.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help you stop chewing tobacco for good. Patches, gum and lozenges ease withdrawal and can double your chances of quitting. Pairing the patch with gum or a lozenge works better than using one alone.

Learn more about your medication options. If you're pregnant or have a serious medical condition, talk to your doctor first.

Keep your hands and mouth busy. Dip is a habit for your mouth as much as your brain. Stock up on snacks and swaps like sugar-free gum, hard candy or sunflower seeds. Try these smoke break alternatives, too.
What is the best way to quit dipping?

The best way to quit dipping is to pair a plan with support, like a Quit Coach and free nicotine replacement. People who use a Quit Coach are two times more likely to quit and stay quit.

Know your triggers before your quit date. Common ones include after meals, breaks, driving, stress, watching a game and playing a sport. Plan a swap for each one.

If you slip, don't give up. Most people make many quit attempts before they quit dipping tobacco for good. Each try teaches you something for the next one. An hour, a day or a week without dipping is worth celebrating.
What does chew withdrawal feel like, week by week?

Chew withdrawal usually starts within hours, peaks around days 2–3 and fades over three to four weeks. Here's your quitting chewing tobacco timeline.

Nicotine drives withdrawal, not the product. So symptoms after quitting chewing tobacco follow the same pattern as quitting cigarettes or vapes.

  • Hours 4–24: Symptoms begin.
  • Days 2–3: Symptoms peak.
  • Days 7–10: Often the toughest stretch, when support matters most.
  • Week 2: Most symptoms ease up.
  • Weeks 3–4: Remaining symptoms fade, with a random craving here and there.

Common symptoms include cravings, irritability, trouble sleeping, trouble focusing and a bigger appetite. The good news? The strongest cravings usually last just three to five minutes. You can outlast them.

See the full Nicotine Withdrawal Timeline for more on what happens when you quit chewing tobacco.
What free help exists in South Dakota, including rural counties?

The SD QuitLine offers free phone and text coaching, free nicotine replacement and a Kickstart Kit shipped to your door, anywhere in South Dakota.

It's free for any South Dakota resident 13 or older who is ready to quit chewing, smoking or vaping. Whether you live in town or out on the ranch, help comes to you by phone, text or mail.

  • Phone Coaching: Weekly calls with a Quit Coach for up to eight weeks, plus up to eight weeks of free NRT gum, lozenges or patches.
  • Texting Coaching (2QuitSD): About eight weeks of personalized texts with limited calls, plus eight weeks of free NRT.
  • Kickstart Kit: Two weeks of free NRT shipped to your door, with the option for two more weeks after a follow-up call.
  • Quit Guide: A free, step-by-step guide to quit on your own terms.

No clinic visit is required for coaching or NRT. Prescription medications like varenicline and bupropion are also free when you're enrolled in phone coaching. They do require a provider's prescription, which may include an office visit charge.

Tried the QuitLine before? You may be able to enroll again up to twice a year. 

Ready to close the tin for good? Call 1-866-SD-QUITS (1-866-737-8487) or visit sdquitline.com to get started.

SD Quitline

People who use a Quit Coach are 2x more likely to quit and stay QUIT!

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Quit & Stay Quit

Everybody quits differently. Your quit journey is your own, and only you know what works for you. Find the method that fits into your journey to put out that cigarette, shut off the vape pen or close the tin for the last time. Start your quit journey today, and get back to your life!

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TOUCH
Phone Coaching

Phone Coaching

Get help from a Quitline phone coach. Your coach will be there for you every step of the way.

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Kickstart Kit

Kickstart Kit

Kick the habit with the FREE Kickstart Kit, which ships to your door with cessation medication and the Quit Guide.

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Quit Guide

Quit Guide

Skip the coaching and medication for now. Start your journey with the FREE Quit Guide to quit when you are ready.

 Get the Guide