Marcus Hijkoop
Features Editor
Sophomore Jim Bush* first used smokeless tobacco during the summer before his freshman year in high school. By second semester, Jim was purchasing his own smokeless tobacco from local gas stations and vendors and bringing it to school every day. Now, Jim says he is addicted and uses smokeless tobacco upwards of eight to nine times a day, regardless of whether he is in class.
According to students throughout the high school, Jim is not alone in his frequent use of smokeless tobacco, despite school and legal policies prohibiting its use on campus and by minors under the age of 18. In the past, entering the high school has often meant entering a new social scene for incoming freshmen, and exposure to the use of smokeless tobacco by upperclassmen. Despite increased research and advertising pertaining the dangers of smokeless tobacco, its use continues by NCHS students, inside and outside the school, during and out of class.
As outlined in the NCHS Student Handbook, “The use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs is injurious to an individual’s health, and the consumption of alcohol or tobacco by minors is illegal.” (33) It further specifies, “The use of tobacco and/or tobacco products (including chewing tobacco) on school grounds or school-sponsored activities is a violation of New Canaan Board of Education policy.” (33)
However, students as young as thirteen and fourteen are often introduced to smokeless tobacco in school. Junior Christy Coco said, “I think freshman year kids are exposed to it but I don’t think it’s until sophomore year that guys become addicted to it.”
Senior Stephanie Benko also noted, “While kids start to get into it during their sophomore year, more kids get into it during junior year because they start to hang out with the upperclassmen more than previous years.” She added, “I do know a decent amount of girls who use it, but for the most part it is guys. They tend to use different types; girls tend to snus more while it’s the guys who dip.”
Students who use smokeless tobacco say that its use is mainly social, but also has further perks. Senior Samuel Johnson* said, “It’s better to do it than not to do it. When you go out with your buddies and they ask you if you want a lip you don’t say no.”
Jim agreed with the social aspects of smokeless tobacco but found further reason for its use. “I use chewing tobacco to both relieve stress of school, to help keep me focused in baseball, and, the main reason, because I am far past a little bit addicted,” he said.
However, students who do not use smokeless tobacco emphasize the health risks and unattractiveness associated with its use. Junior Scott Levene said, “I don’t use smokeless tobacco because it’s disgusting, it causes severe gum damage and you’ve got to be in pristine shape to play soccer.”
Junior Christy Coco agreed and pointed to its repercussions in later professions. “I don’t use smokeless tobacco because it can lead to throat and mouth cancer and also stains your teeth,” she said. “Such a silly little hobby is not worth all the potentially deadly side effects and who wants dental problems all their life? There’s actually a scientific study that says if you have nice teeth you’re taken more seriously in business and destroying your mouth can only hinder your success in life.”
But this poses the question, if those who don’t use smokeless tobacco disapprove of its use, then why does it thrive socially? Christy said, “I think it’s gross. I find it really unattractive and it shows that they don’t care much about their health.” However, she later admitted, “A lot of my guy friends dip so yes, I am around people who use it often.”
Stephanie suggested that its frequent use generally makes it more acceptable socially. “Some of my friends use it, so by now I’m used to it,” she said. “Although personally I think it’s gross, I don’t think differently of people who use it.”
According to Scott, smokeless tobacco is used constantly within the school and students can be found using it in and out of the classroom. “I see people using it daily in school, probably once every few hours,” he said. “It’s not rare to see kids dipping in class but it’s not everyday either.”
This coincides with junior Gary Jones’* use of smokeless tobacco. “When I dip in school, I usually do it in the lounge or in the bathroom,” he said. “I hardly ever do it in class.”
Samuel said he understands that other students may not agree with smokeless tobacco, and he therefore rarely uses it in school. “The only time I’ll use it at school is before a test; it calms me down,” he said. “I try to be polite about using it and don’t do it in front of people that don’t accept it.”
However, some students, such as Jim, use smokeless tobacco more often in class and thank their ability to hide it. “I use smokeless tobacco at whatever point of the day I feel like, no matter the class or teacher,” Jim said. “When I first started off dipping my freshman year, it was not too easy to hide, but as I became a more experienced dipper, it became almost second nature for me.”
Perhaps it is this ability to hide smokeless tobacco that makes it so hard to regulate. According to Assistant Principal, Ari Rothman, “Surprisingly, we haven’t caught a lot of kids. I can’t actually think of a time when we’ve caught a kid with smokeless tobacco in his or her mouth,” he said. “The larger issue is, quite honestly, that the kids using it leave a disgusting mess. The times we’ve found out about it have been after the fact.”
Mr. Rothman expressed that the school’s reasoning behind prohibiting smokeless tobacco lies in the health risks and disruption of classes associated with its use. “My concern, as well as the school’s concern, is that the health risks are significant. Our rules have been developed to teach positive constructive behavior,” he said. “There is so much evidence of the dangers of it, that there is no reason to allow it.”
While disciplinary action can include up to ten days suspension or expulsion, Mr. Rothman reaffirmed that a student would not be expelled for primary smokeless tobacco use.
Despite the disciplinary and health consequences of smokeless tobacco, Samuel and Jim say that they will continue to use it. “I don’t care about the legal or school policy on smokeless tobacco,” Samuel said. “I don’t see the law as an obstacle. It’s a life choice. If I want to do it then let me.”
Jim shared a similar apathy for the disciplinary repercussions. “I have no idea what the school policy is on chewing tobacco,” he said. “The consequences are irrelevant to me because I do not plan on getting caught.”
* Name has been changed
