• 11/9/2004
  • Michael Flynn
  • Ashville Citizen-Times

Paul Turner directs the North Carolina Spit Tobacco Education Program, which seeks to reduce the rate of spit tobacco use among the state’s middle and high school students and to make sure people are aware that smokeless tobacco is not harmless.

Nationally, spit tobacco use among high school boys is 10.8 percent, but North Carolina`s rate is 17.6 percent and in Western North Carolina the rate is more than 35 percent. The N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund has awarded the program $304,500 grant, which is administered by the Haywood County Health Department.

Before joining the program, Turner retired after a lengthy career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including serving as Deputy Director of the Division of Oral Health. Turner has also served as director of Oral Health America’s National Spit Tobacco Education Program.

Question: What are the health risks of using spit tobacco?

Answer: The risks include nicotine addiction and dependence, periodontal disease, tooth loss, increased heart rate and high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, decreased stamina and endurance, delayed wound healing and gastric problems such as stomach problems and ulcers. In some cases spit tobacco use can result in oral cancer and death. Spit tobacco use is certainly not a safe alternative to smoking.

Q: Why are the use rates higher in WNC than the rest of the state and country?

A: It is part of our heritage. We are basically a rural environment with a lot of wide-open spaces, outdoor sports, and agriculture endeavors. We have a better opportunity to use spit tobacco products.

Q: What’s the program’s most effective prevention tool?

A: Educating young people, as well as health professionals, parents, adult leaders, educators, coaches and athletes that spit tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. Since this is a small program, it is important that we concentrate on training other trainers.

Q: How has the program’s message been received by high school students?

A: Students are not only attentive and receptive to the message, but express concern about loved ones and role models that are using spit tobacco products. Most young people want to do what is right and what is healthy.

Q: You’ve been involved in oral health for decades – what are the key differences in dealing with today’s youth?

A: You have to tell our youth the truth. By being honest with young people you gain their trust and they will listen to your message. The best teachers and role models for our youth are other youth. When they are informed, most young people will make good choices. In the past we told them what we thought they needed to know, but adult examples were not always consistent with what they were told.

Q: What do you think the outlook is for spit tobacco use in North Carolina?

A: I think as our youth and adults are informed about the problems with spit tobacco use; about how they are being manipulated by the industry; and that spit tobacco use is no longer condoned by parents, coaches, and adult leaders, use will decline.

As more school systems, such as Buncombe County Schools, become tobacco-free, tobacco usage rates will decease and our population will have better health.