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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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Honor Every Breath

Sharing our experience requires our voice, and our voice requires our breath. Together, we can overcome commercial tobacco addiction. Together, we can honor every breath.

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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.

Young Adults
Middle School
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More Good years

Quitting is the difference between quality time with your family and missing out to catch your breath. Enjoy your years really living. Leave tobacco in the past, and live more good years.

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Control Tobacco

Access tools for educators, coalitions and more. Explore our media library, order educational or advocacy supplies and more.

Adult male holding a tin of smokeless tobacco.

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. 

USERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Did you know that smokeless tobacco use in South Dakota is higher than the national average? Smokeless tobacco is just as dangerous for your health as cigarettes and other tobacco products. The only way to protect yourself from these consequences is to kick the habit for good.

These smokeless tobacco products include:

  • Plug
  • Snuff
  • Snus

 

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

Smokeless Tobacco

CONSIDER THE RISKS

Take a look at what makes smokeless tobacco so dangerous. It's not harmless!

ORAL HEALTH RISKS

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.

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 problems caused by smokeless tobacco: 

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

 

APPEAL OF VARIETY & FLAVORS

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.

 

ADDICTION

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

Since it contains nicotine, users are still exposed to the harms of nicotine addiction. Users often partake in the product constantly, 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.

 

TARGETING RURAL POPULATIONS

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)
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Did you know? The biggest risk factor for oral cancer is tobacco.
7 Easy Steps

Oral Cancer Self Exam

Chewing tobacco puts you at risk of oral lesions, oral cancer and other cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach and pancreas. If you currently chew or have chewed tobacco, take these seven steps to check for any evidence of oral cancer.

01 Head & Neck
Look at your face and neck in a mirror. Normally, the left and right sides of the face have the same shape. Check for any lumps, bumps or swelling that are only on one side of your face.
 
02 Lips
Pull your lower lip down and look for sores or color changes. Then use your thumb and forefinger to feel the lip for lumps, bumps or changes in texture. Repeat this on your upper lip.
 
03 Neck
Press along the sides and front of the neck for tenderness or lumps.
 
04 Face
Examine the skin on your face for changes in color or size, sores, moles or growths.
 
05 Cheeks
Examine your inner cheek for red, white or dark patches. Lightly pinch the inside and outside of your cheek. Gently squeeze and roll both sides between your fingers to check for any lumps or tenderness.
 
06 Floor of the Mouth & Tongue
Extend your tongue, and look at the top surface for color and texture. Pull your tongue forward to look at both sides for any swelling or color changes. Examine the underside of the tongue by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Look at the floor of your mouth and the underside of your tongue for color changes, and touch the underside of your tongue to feel for any lumps or swelling.
 
07 Roof of the Mouth
Tilt your head back, and open your mouth wide to look for any lumps. See if the color is different from usual. Use a finger to touch the roof of your mouth to feel for abnormal lumps.
 
7 Easy Steps

ORAL CANCER SELF EXAM

Chewing tobacco puts you at risk of oral lesions, oral cancer and other cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach and pancreas. If you currently chew or have chewed tobacco, take these seven steps to check for any evidence of oral cancer.
1
Head & Neck Look at your face and neck in a mirror. Normally, the left and right sides of the face have the same shape. Check for any lumps, bumps, or swellings that are only on one side of your face.
2
Lips Pull your lower lip down and look for sores or color changes. Then use your thumb and forefinger to feel the lip for lumps, bumps or changes in texture. Repeat this on your upper lip.
3
Neck Press along the sides and front of the neck for tenderness or lumps.
4
Face Examine the skin on your face for changes in color or size, sores, moles or growths.
5
Cheek Examine your inner cheek for red, white or dark patches. Lightly pinch the inside and outside of your cheek. Gently squeeze and roll both sides between your fingers to check for any lumps or tenderness.
6
Floor of the Mouth & Tongue Extend your tongue, and look at the top surface for color and texture. Pull your tongue forward to look at both sides for any swelling or color changes. Examine the underside of the tongue by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Look at the floor of your mouth and the underside of your tongue for color changes, and touch the underside of your tongue to feel for any lumps or swellings.
7
Roof of the Mouth Tilt your head back, and open your mouth wide to look for any lumps. See if the color is different from usual. Use a finger to touch the roof of your mouth to feel for abnormal lumps.
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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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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.

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