– Me and a friend used to “snuff” snuff from my father already in second grade at primary school, laughs Hans August Pünther (28). – We took the snuff and cycled off, before we finally ended up lying on the grass and vomiting. He pulls out a snuff box from his right back pocket. “The good friend”, as he himself describes it, has had a permanent place under Pünther’s lips since he went to upper secondary school. The snuffbox has a permanent place in Pünther’s right back pocket. Photo: Christian Breidlid / news – It was an older boy who asked if I wanted a snuff on the first day of school at primary school. I remember thinking he was so cool, so I felt I couldn’t say no, says Pünther. – But then I got sick, and I ended up having to go home from school. – It has become a habit, says Pünther, who has been sniffing since high school. Photo: Christian Breidlid / news Almost half snuff Even with several snuff attempts that have ended in both vomiting and dizziness, Pünther has still managed to become addicted to snuff. And he is not alone in that. In a recent survey carried out by Statistics Norway (SSB), it appears that 45 per cent of young men between the ages of 25 and 34 snuff regularly. 37 per cent of young men between the ages of 25 and 34 snuff daily, while 8 per cent snuff occasionally. This means that 45 percent snuff regularly. Men between the ages of 16 and 24 are in second place, with 33 per cent. Photo: SSB Senior researcher at the Institute of Public Health, Karl Erik Lund, says that until recent years, snus has been the most frequently used item among those who have wanted to quit smoking. – But that has changed now, says Lund. – As the smoking trend is declining in society, it is the case that those who start snuffing now, often start straight away without smoking beforehand. The figure shows the proportion of Norwegians aged 16-79 who smoked and snuffed daily between 2013-2023. Photo: SSB Lund advises everyone not to start sniffing – especially pregnant women and those who already have cardiovascular disease. – But snus is not good for anyone, as it can lead to several serious injuries in both the mouth and oral cavity, says the snus researcher. Senior researcher at the Institute of Public Health Karl Erik Lund. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB Decline in young male snuffers Although the number of snuffers aged 16-79 has increased in recent years, Lund and FHI believe that there has been a decline in the number of young male snuffers. – In the 25-34 age group there are so few smokers, and when snus is a substitute for smoke, it means that the customer potential for snus is smaller, says Lund. – But we will always see the use of nicotine in our society. After all, it is a stimulus and it often feels good for those who have been sniffing for a long time. Lund believes we will always see nicotine in our society. Photo: Christian Breidlid / news – Got down the stairs At the Majorstuakrysset in Oslo stands Amir Berg Jensen (18). He is addicted to snuff and always carries a snuffbox in his front left trouser pocket. But not today. – I just ran out, says Jensen. – Do you get stressed when you have no more snuff? – No, not really. It’s not as stressful as people think. It really just feels like you’re missing something. Jensen has tried to stop sniffing once: – It lasted for a few days, but then unfortunately I fell back into my old habits. Photo: Christian Breidlid / news He was 14 when he tried snus for the first time. – There were many people around me who sniffed, and I wanted to do the same as them, says Jensen. Four years later, he is still sniffing. – But I have stepped down. At most I used to sniff eight snuffs a day, while now I only sniff four, smiles the 18-year-old. news has spoken to several young people who snuff, including people who do not want to be named: – Snuff gives me an energy boost. Woman, 19 – If I hadn’t spent my money on snuff, I would have spent it on something else. Male, 22 More people want to quit In the survey carried out by Statistics Norway, it appears that more of the snus addicts want to stop snusing. – Of those who use snus regularly, 43 per cent are seriously considering stopping using snus in the next 6 months, says advisor at Statistics Norway Sindre Mikael Haugen. Frequent use of snuff can lead to serious damage to both the mouth and oral cavity, explains snuff researcher Lund. Photo: Christian Breidlid / news Pünther and Jensen both say that they have tried to stop sniffing – but without success. – I tried to quit once when I was on holiday. It was three days before my mother begged me to take a snuff, as I was getting so grumpy and irritable, laughs Pünther. Lund has researched snus for several years, and says addiction is the biggest reason why people choose to stop snus. – It comes in addition to finances, says Lund and adds that the health aspect is not as important for snuffers as it is for smokers. – Snuffers are not as worried as smokers when it comes to the health-damaging factors. It actually comes quite far down the list of reasons why people stop sniffing, concludes Lund. Do you sniff? Yes, every day Occasionally No, never Show result Published 19.11.2024, at 15.51
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Almost half of young men regularly snuff – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
