The New Normal in the world of Tobacco-Snus

Snus is a smokeless tobacco product that has been used for more than 200 years in Scandinavia, named after the Swedish word for snuff, snus is made from ground tobacco leaves of Dark Kentucky or Virginia species mixed with salt and water. It may also contain food-grade tobacco smoke aroma, or other flavourings. In 2024, 22 percent of men and 10 percent of women aged 16–84 reported that they use snus every day. In recent years, usage has increased after being relatively unchanged for a long time. The increase is particularly evident among women aged 16–29 years, where the proportion of daily snus users has risen from 3 percent in 2018 to 18 percent in 2024. Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden from 2004 to 2024.

Snus is pasteurized, in order to kill the bacteria that can produce cancer-causing chemicals. It’s completely smokefree, but it can still satisfy the nicotine cravings without the smell or residues associated with cigarette smoking.

Most commonly found in two types:

1} Loose ( 1-2 g a quid) most popular almost 73% of users prefer this form.

2} Portion-bag-packed (0.5-1 g a quid)

Area of placement: The vestibular area of upper lip.

Snus is not prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as a performance enhancing substance or controlled substance, hence it is becoming more and more popular among the professional football players, raising concerns about a new kind of addiction. Nicotine is, however, on the WADA 2023 Monitoring Programme for in-competition use as a stimulant. 

Snus use can be viewed as a maladaptive stress management strategy for football-related occupational stress. Biol Sport. 2023 Jul 24;41(1):201–205. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2024.130050. 

Swedish Public Health Agency 2024 – rise in daily snus use, especially young women. Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden from 2004 to 2024.

The EU stands out prominently as the only region to have a comprehensive ban on the sale of snus, which was implemented in 1992 and then incorporated into subsequent Tobacco Products Directives (TPD). The sale of snus is allowed in 79 countries in total and banned in 39 countries including the EU 28.

A 2023 systematic review (IJC) of exclusive Swedish snus users found elevated risks of cancer for some sites (e.g., esophagus, pancreas, stomach, rectum) and higher mortality after some cancers; evidence remains limited for women. Review 

Int J Cancer. 2023 Dec 15;153(12):1942-1953. doi: 10.1002/ijc.34643.Epub 2023 Jul 21.