Skip to main content
Log in

Nicotine intake and dependence in Swedish snuff takers

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two studies examining nicotine intake in users of Swedish moist oral snuff are reported. Absorption form a single pinch (2 g) in ten users after overnight abstinence was fairly rapid. The increment in plasma nicotine concentrations averaged 9.9 ng/ml (SD 6.5) after 10 min and peaked at 14.5 ng/ml (SD 4.6) shortly after discarding at 30 min. Among groups of habitual snuff takers (n=27) and cigarette smokers (n=35) studied on a day of normal snuffing/smoking, peak blood nicotine levels after use were similar [averaging 36.6 ng/ml (SD 14.4) and 36.7 ng/ml (SD 16.1), respectively], but there was a tendency to higher cotinine levels in the snuffers (399.2 ng/ml versus 306.3 ng/ml). The snuff takers and cigarette smokers reported similar levels of subjective dependence on tobacco. Epidemiological study of Swedish snuff users could clarify whether the cardiovascular risks of tobacco are attributable to nicotine or to other smoke components, as in their case nicotine intake is not accompanied by combustion products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benowitz NL (1988) Pharmacologic aspects of cigarette smoking and nicotine addiction. N Engl J Med 319:1318–1330

    Google Scholar 

  • Benowitz NL, Porchet H, Sheiner L, Jacob P (1988) Nicotine absorption and cardiovascular effects with smokeless tobacco use: comparison with cigarettes and nicotine gum. Clin Pharmacol Ther 44:23–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Feyerabend C, Russell MAH (1990) A rapid gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of nicotine and cotinine in biological fluids. J Pharm Pharmacol 42:450–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Gritz ER, Baer-Weiss V, Benowitz NL, Van Vunakis H, Jarvik M (1981) Plasma nicotine and cotinine concentrations in habitual smokeless tobacco users. Clin Pharmacol Ther 30:201–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatsukami DK (1991) Smokeless tobacco: current status and future directions. Br J Addict 86:559–563

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatsukami DK, Gust SW, Keenan RM (1987) Physiologic and subjective changes from smokeless tobacco withdrawal. Clin Pharmacol Ther 41:103–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Isaac PF, Rand MJ (1969) Blood levels of nicotine and physiological effects after inhalation of tobacco smoke. Eur J Pharmacol 8:269–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Keenan RM, Hatsukami DK, Anton DJ (1989) The effects of short-term smokeless tobacco deprivation on performance. Psychopharmacology 98:126–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordgren P, Ramstrom L (1990) Moist snuff in Sweden — tradition and evolution. Br J Addict 85:1107–1112

    Google Scholar 

  • Rand MJ (1989) Neuropharmacological effects of nicotine in relation to cholinergic mechanisms. In: Nordberg A, Fuxe K, Holmstedt B, Sundwall A (eds) Progress in brain research 79:3–11. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell MAH (1988) Nicotine replacement: the role of blood nicotine levels, their rate of change, and nicotine tolerance. In: Pomerleau OF, Pomerleau CS (eds) Nicotine replacement: a critical evaluation. Liss, New York, pp 63–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell MAH, Jarvis MJ, Feyerabend C (1980) A new age for snuff? Lancet 1:474–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell MAH, Jarvis MJ, Devitt G, Feyerabend C (1981) Nicotine intake by snuff users. Br Med J 283:814–817

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell MAH, Jarvis MJ, Feyerabend C, Saloojee Y (1986) Reduction of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide intake in low tar smokers. J Epidemiol Commun Health 40:80–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Squires WG, Brandon TA, Zingrat S, et al. (1984) Hemodynamic effects of oral smokeless tobacco in dogs and young adults. Prev Med 13:195–206

    Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Health and Human Services (1986) The health consequences of using smokeless tobacco: a report of the Surgeon General. USDHSS, Public Health Service, Bethesda

    Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Health and Human Services (1988) Nicotine addiction: a report of the Surgeon General. USDHHS, Public Health Service, Maryland

    Google Scholar 

  • Wald NJ, Idle M, Boreham J, Bailey A, Van Vunakis H (1984) Urinary nicotine concentrations in cigarette and pipe smokers. Thorax 39:365–368

    Google Scholar 

  • West R, Krafona K (1990) Oral tobacco: prevalence, health risks, dependence potential and public policy. Br J Addict 85:1097–1098

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holm, H., Jarvis, M.J., Russell, M.A.H. et al. Nicotine intake and dependence in Swedish snuff takers. Psychopharmacology 108, 507–511 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247429

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247429

Key words

Navigation