Smokeless tobacco cessation: report of a preliminary trial using nicotine chewing gum.
BACKGROUND
Smokeless tobacco use is a major public health hazard whose incidence is increasing, particularly among male adolescents. Little research has been done on cessation programs designed to assist smokeless tobacco users in ending their habit. There have been no studies on the use of nicotine polacrilex chewing gum as an adjunct to cessation.


METHODS
Fourteen of 88 male smokeless tobacco users in a professional baseball organization enrolled in a cessation program and were followed for up to 12 months. The program consisted of two support group sessions at the spring training camp followed by adjunctive use of nicotine polacrilex chewing gum during the baseball season as monitored by the athletic trainers.


RESULTS
At 2 to 4 months, only 3 of 14 participants were completely abstinent from smokeless tobacco. Follow-up data at 6 to 12 months revealed that only one participant was abstinent. The 14 ballplayers experienced various side effects of nicotine chewing gum: bad taste (6), nausea (4), headache (4), jaw discomfort (3), and dizziness (1). Despite these side effects, 11 of the 14 participants replied that they would recommend the gum to others trying to quit. Most participants (10) felt that quitting the smokeless tobacco habit was "very difficult."


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that nicotine chewing gum as an adjunct to smokeless tobacco cessation had limited effectiveness. Further study on smokeless tobacco cessation methods is needed.
Sinusas
K
K
Family Practice Residency, Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, CT 06457.
Coroso
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001484:Baseball; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002638:Chewing Gum / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless
D002638:Chewing Gum; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D011145:Polyvinyls; D009538:Nicotine