newbie snus contemplator

[f. bandersnatch]

Nicotine can be an incredible concentration/alertness aid. If you think you may have ADHD, I would think you should talk to a doctor. I would also say that nicotine strikes me as a much more attractive option than the amphetamines they will prescribe you at the doctors office. I have far too many friends that have become addicted to those substances in the name of medicne for me to believe that nicotine is not a safer alternative. Obviously, either route leads to addiction, but I would take snus over synthetic amphetamines any day. That is just an opinion though.

On the subject of snus addiction, I get the feeling I am in the minority on this, but I find it to be incredibly easy to moderate my intake. Snus is such an easy and convienient way to use tobacco, it is not hard to imagine why a person would pop portion after portion, so you should be aware of that, but my experience is quite the opposite. Nicotine from snus comes on slowly and sticks around for quite awhile, so it seems like it is easier for me to go for several hours, even most of the day, without one.

All that being said, I still have a strong nicotine addiction that is tied to my snus use. God help you if you get inbetween me and the fridge early in the mourning, etc. So, I guess the short answer is yes, you will develop an addiction to snus if you use it, even if it is a moderate and regulated addiction.

[sagedil]

Nicotine can be an incredible concentration/alertness aid. If you think you may have ADHD, I would think you should talk to a doctor. I would also say that nicotine strikes me as a much more attractive option than the amphetamines they will prescribe you at the doctors office. I have far too many friends that have become addicted to those substances in the name of medicne for me to believe that nicotine is not a safer alternative. Obviously, either route leads to addiction, but I would take snus over synthetic amphetamines any day. That is just an opinion though.

I was addicted to speed for two years 20 years ago when I was at Berkeley. Haven't touched any in a long, long time. But I know myself. Prescribe me Ritilin or similar, and I would be abusing again within 3 days. Just would.

Besides, I lack health insurance anyway, so nicotine really my only option. Again, snus is just the safest way I have found to get it. But I would smoke again if no snus. I simply can't function without nicotine or other, worse for me, medications.

[rickcharles606]

Welcome to the forum Livewire, congrats on kicking the smoking. You said that you still smoke a cigar every now and then didn't you?? If thats the case, then I don't think a mini portion would bother you too badly.

I smoked for 20 years, and started using snus over a year ago, and the snus "craving" is far easier to deal with. It's because the nicotine uptake is completely different with snus than it is with cigarettes.

Tough call on your part, just know going in that a full blown nicotine addiction sucks, lol

[WickedKitchen]

Like others have said it's different for everyone.

My wife can keep a pack of smokes around for a couple of days or a couple of weeks. She says that she "has an affair" w/ cigarettes. Then she goes months w/o one and it doesn't bother her or me at all.

For me, I'm an addict. Plain and simple. For snus, I think the benefits outwiegh the negatives, but for smokes...they would've killed me.

I haven't tried to stop snus so I can't speak for how difficult it would be. You seem to have strong willpower though. Quitting smokes is no easy task. I did six years ago (almost seven) and never relapsed but six months later I started dipping so I conquered smoking but not nicotine.

Best of luck. You quit once, you can quit again but you're ahead of the game now.

[Livewire]

Firstly, I just want to thank everyone for their contributions to my enquiry - all of the posts, differing though they are, are very interesting and valuable.

The ADHD comments from sagedil et al are particularly interesting -you have undoubtedly offered some qualified insight into my concentration issues and I have little doubt that a physician would diagnose ADHD in me but, alas, here in the UK this diagnosis is viewed with enormous skepticism, especially in adults and medication is, almost, impossible to come by. I haven’t discussed it with anyone but I’m 99% sure from my own experiences from an early age that I do have it – that’s why I got so hooked on the cigs for so long.I won’t go into any more detail here as this is a snus forum afterall.

Snus is appealing because it is the EFFECT of the nicotine that I seem to gain benefits from, hence the odd cigar. Actually, I hate smelling of acrid cigar smoke but because I don’t inhale as I used when I smoked cigarettes I get the nicotine from the absorbtion in the mouth – a slower form of absorbtion than from the lungs and, therefore, easier to control (in my experience at least). This is what lead me to thinking about snus as, I imagine, the absorbtion is closer to cigar smoking than cigarette smoking – but my theory may well be flawed.

Thanks again for the insights posted here.

[sagedil]

LOL, sagedil does it again. And no, feel free to post about anything here, what we do here.

First, before you do anything else. Do a search on ADHD and my name. You will find at least 10 other threads here where I have discussed this. Do a simple google search on ADHD and nicotine, and see all the studies I refereed to.

I use snus for exactly the reasons you say. It is by far the best nicotine delivery system I ever found. Snus ensures the nicotine stays in the system forever, with very gentle leaving the blood stream. Snus has meant I have been able to regulate my nicotine without even having to think about it any more. I just put a new snus in very hour or so, and it doesn't even cross my mind.

Do a search on my previous posts, and you will find my story of a girlfriend I had 2 years ago. Had a heart condition, so I gave up snus for 5 weeks. I was left completely nonfunctional without the nicotine. It was scary how badly I was able to focus on anything.

I need nicotine. So I use snus.

But your comments on absorption being similar to cigar are right on. I also use snuff, started over a year ago, and picked up pipe smoking about 5 months ago. The nicotine from pipe or cigar smoke is absorbed through the mucus membranes as well, just like snus. I suspect the nicotine leaves the blood stream in a similar fashion., but have never looked for any research on that.

Now. From everything you have said, yes, give snus a try. So what if you become addicted to the nicotine, I suspect that is a good thing for you. It is for me.

Happy I could shed some light. This is just a subject that is dear and near to my heart.