I’m interested to know how many members here used snuff to quit cigs ? . And how did you do it ? Did you gradually cut down using snuff or did you stop completely just like that ?, I’m only asking due to their is no such information available on the net about this ? I know their is a few topics about using snuff as a method to stop smoking but it would be great to have one post about how you did it ? I myself have found completely stopping just like that quite hard but then maybe I’m not useing enough … also how much did you use to combat the cravings that you got ?

There are numerous threads about this but the search is pretty much shot at the moment; the simple answer is yes, a lot of us did. The method, in short, is: Stop smoking. Decide on the snuffs you are going to use and just take two large pinches whenever you want a cigarette. You have to get used to not taking little biddy pinches and to really commit, but if you take the pinch whenever you need a smoke slowly but surely the craving will be for snuff not a cigarette. You have to switch entirely - use snuff wherever you smoke, all the triggers etc but by the end of the first few days you will be getting there. The single, vital thing is to take enough to satisfy the cravings - when you have taken a pinch big enough to do that the cigarette craving will fade away after about 2 or 3 minutes. Use plainish snuff that can be used in quantity without causing congestion - menthols and highly scented snuffs are not too great for this, things like Toque quit, natural or original are. Snuff wins over NRT products because they only provide nicotine; snuff provides tobacco and for addicts that’s important because there is evidence that other alkaloids are involved in the tobacco addiction - so with snuff you get everything bar the combustion by-products, plus if you love tobacco, like most of us, you get to keep it in your life. Make the whole thing pleasant, get a snuff box, savour the moment - and no guilt trips if you fall off the wagon; you owe no explanations or apologies, just start again. I said I would have a cigarette if ever I needed one to save my sanity - and I have done but I have turned a 2 pack a day smoking addiction with snuff appreciation on the side to 99.9% snuff use with a cigarette every blue moon if I feel like one. Been that way since 2007. It is very doable. Btw, it’s counter-intuitive in the extreme but large pinches burn less than small - use about a pea-sized pinch per nostril and you will find the whole point of snuff taking opening up.

Fantastic reply and very very informative thank you very much snuffster people like you make forums like this amazing places .

Somebody needs to cut and paste that reply for the FAQ if they haven’t already.

I quit with snuff and electronic cigs. I found that the hand to mouth addiction is just as fierce as the nicotine and alkaloids with anti-depressant properties. Whenever my cravings get strong (which isn’t very often at all anymore) then I pick up my ecig as well. I do snuff all the time though. It’s WAY safer than smoking IMO.

Yes … quit with Snuff and Snus. The snuff acts faster and gives me a ritual that works like lighting up a smoke … the snus preserves the nicotine levels evenly after i take a few pinches.

Really alkaloids is addictive as well ?

I did about two years ago, and found very quickly that snuff was actually far more enjoyable of a habit for a number of reasons, not least among them being that I could use snuff while at work without having to wait for a break to go outside. Also, in my experience, snuff is not nearly as hard to quit or take a break from for periods of time as smoking was (to this day I tend to go through phases of using snuff for a month or two, and then stopping for a few months without any withdrawal struggles or cravings before one day thinking a pinch would be nice again). Snus is nice too, and I found that I was able to use that on the job relatively discretely also, but prefer snuff because it has an added air of elegance and tradition about it that is hard to duplicate IMO.

Yes, snuffster’s reply should be a part of the FAQ-section. It’s a really wonderful explenation of the chance snuff gives for all smokers.

I never really wanted to quit smoking these last few months but Ive found myself snuffing more and smoking less. Ive gone from a pack a day to 4 cigarettes a day. I have also noticed I’m going through more tins faster. If trying to quit with snuff doesn’t work then you’ll find that your cigarette consumption will slowly decrease as your cravings for snuff increase.

One thing to also consider is the fact that the Feds in the U.S. at least have some kind of clauses and mandates that deal with what is “smoking cessation.” Whether they be devices (e-cigs), delivery systems (snus), or substance (snuff). They’ll never have it. You’re either on the patch or smoking. For the sake of being among peers of the same interest, I actually gave up on quitting but the combination of snuff, rope, and e-cigs has gotten me off the cigs. Will I give this advice to somebody? Wouldn’t catch me, but there’s really something about a nice big pinch of Sparrow when you’ve had just about enough of a task, a rope of Gawith Cherry I can just slice off and enjoy for a bit, and a nice long drag/toot off a lr 306 with a cannon running 3.7v squonking/feeding even just the average 18mg menthol; again just “something about it.”

Well I have noticed something today that when I had a cig I didn’t feel that calm or that feeling after u have one I couldn’t work it out all day and all day I was on edge , until tonight I had snuff and after I felt calm etc not on edge so is this my body switching addiction do you think ? I found it most odd

I started snuffing at about 15 or 16, I can’t really remember. I started so that I didn’t start smoking, although I do occasoinally smoke a pipe. I think I’ve only had one cigerette in my life, and maybe 20 odd cigars altogether.

I quit with snuff for about 2 years. I restarted when I was dating a smoker and I’m quitting again right now. (about 5 days) I used mint snuff with snuff the first time. I can only speak for myself but I have to not have any cigs in the house. If I have access to them I’ll smoke them, no matter how much snuff I have. The day I decided to quit I had about half a pack or so, when I got a craving I would snuff some then smoke occasionally until I finished the pack. Usually by about the third day the craving for cigs goes away.

I was a 2 pack a day smoker. Then at 23, I had a massive stroke. The doctors said I couldn’t smoke, so I started using the lozenges. I was in total misery and would cheat once a month or so. Then I got into snus and then snuff. About 2 months of using snuff, I started getting my technique right. I loved it. Fast forward 7 months and I never even think about cheating. Once I got my technique right, it was amazing. Basically I’m saying is that snuff takes time to learn. You will get enough nicotine from snuff that it will make quitting smoking easier. I don’t know how long you’ve been using snuff, but you should wait until your technique is good. For me, snuff gives me a nicotine buzz every time I use it. Obviously not everyone gets this, but you should get some sort of nicotine effect from snuff, be it a huge buzz or something more modest. That’s when quitting smoking will get much easier. Give it some time and it will get easier.

I flat out quit smoking cigarettes, a year and a half ago, with snuff. I have used snuff exclusively without an urge to smoke at all since last fall. I guess I’m lucky that way, after smoking 2-3 packs a day for over ten years. It was a cost thing for me, I got embarrassed and felt like an idiot laying down good money for cigarettes, and finally resolved to not buy them anymore. All other forms of tobacco exceed a cost that is acceptable to me and I’m very pleased that a google of the term snuff brought me around to such an exquisite hobby. YOU CAN DO IT

@squarefiend Yep a Buzz with a 306 or Ego with a LR306 with (of course) Cannon drip tip and honey flue cured from liquid express is my favorite “vape” “something about it” is right. That and some good old tom buck in my nose and I’m good on the whole smoking thing… You’ve heard this a million and one times I’m sure, but it’s SOOOO TRUE. You can quit. It’s much easier than you think. Simply switch to something less deadly!

“Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” - Mark Twain

@joe Nicotine IS an alkaloid… among others in tobacco.

@joe Alkaloids and alkalines aren’t the same thing. I’m no chemist, but from my understanding the psychoactive properties of cigarette smoking are largely from nicotine and harmala (both alkaloids). Nicotine has complex activity depending on dosage ranging from stimulant to sedative among others. Harmala is an MAO inhibitor which causes temporary changes in brain chemistry (neurotransmitters). MAOIs are often used in medicine as antidepressants. Long term use of MAOIs builds chemical dependance, and dropping them abruptly leads to withdrawal symptoms. Snuffing helps alleviate this (my opinion) because there is harmala in snuff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmala\\_alkaloid What’s funny in a very perverse way, is that the medical community knows that nicotine replacement therapy without treatment for the MAO dependence doesn’t work, but nobody questions the patch or gum which do not address this. In my perspective snuff is not only an alternative to NRT, it is actually a superior method. If snuff is so much better, than why is it not advertised as such? The answer to that lies in the definition of a drug (aka medicine). If a manufacturer claims effectiveness for a medical condition, of which cigarette addiction is classified as such, then the product becomes a “drug” in the eyes of regulators. Drugs require approval, and distribution of unapproved drugs is illegal by FDA regulations, at least in USA.

@transistor: "You can quit. It’s much easier than you think. Simply switch to something less deadly! " I agree completely.

I am currently in the process of quitting cigs. with snuff. I am dropping off gradually. I have gone from 2.5 to 3 packs per day down to just a couple cigs a day. It has been fairly easy so far. Cigs are not as calming and they are starting to taste unpleasant. It probably won’t be long before I take the last step and toss them aside completely.

Yes, I gave up cigs last November. Haven’t smoked in 9 months. Only use snuff. American Scotches rule supreme as ciggy substitutes imo. Deliciously strong snuffs! Make giving up smoking easy-peasy. You just have to want to give up.

Re Alkaloids: I’m no chemist either but I heard recently that there are dozens in tobacco, mostly not understood in terms of their action - the theory goes that there is a synergy between nicotine and the rest that creates a unique brain chemistry that leads to the massively powerful smokers addiction. NRT products contain purified nicotine, but only that - so something like a nicotine spray only partially addresses the addiction and may be practically placebo in effect. I don’t know, but I do know snuff can give you everything you need, and sure - back up with snus, dip, chew, whatever just get a week or so absence from smoking cigarettes and you are in a great position.

many thanks guys great to see such informative replys that make since and help ! Their is a lot more to cigs than I first thought …this topic has enlightened me in many ways

I first switched from cigarette to pipe smoking, then to snus, then added snuff. Now I use snus and snuff full-time. Once in a while I’ll still smoke a pipe or a cigarette, but not often. I find myself less and less interested in burning tobacco to get my vitamin N.

@xapken I agree with what you said completely. However, NRT without the other alkaloids isn’t doomed. I’ve met smokers of 40 yrs that quit with ecigs alone (and snuff alone!), and currently there’s no eliquid that has the nitrosamines, harmaline, etc. included (which would be AMAZING… there’s currently work being done on this btw). That’s why about half the people that use them can quit just fine, but the other half insist that there’s “something missing.” That’s where snuff comes in. I get everything else I feel I need from the snuff. That’s why I think when you’re trying to quit these two work hand in hand like no other…

For me, the only time ive been able to quit is with a can of dip and a tin of strong snuff. When a cig craving comes on I have a pinch of snuff then a huge dip. The huge hit I get with dip definetly takes the edge off. I need dip because ive never had a snuff that can create a buzz as fast and strong as a cig. I quit for about a month once this way. Being in a house of smokers it is really hard to quit.

Nope, quit with Cope, then quit Cope with snuff and snus. edm

Quit with snuff, started smoking again, quit with dip, then quit dip with snuff.

With snuff, quitting should have been easy, but I still had trouble. MY problem wasn’t the nicotine, which I could get with the snuff. My problem was I had been bending my elbow for almost 30 years. I needed something to do with my hands. (steady…)One day my son noticed I was going a little nuts, and he tossed me one of his yo-yos. I took a big pinch of O&G and started throwin’ that yo-yo. I finally got off the cigarettes for good. 4 years later I stll love my snuff, and I’ve got pretty serious yo-yo habit.

Does the dip nic hit come across stronger than snuff? I haven’t done dip or chew since the Army, and that was 30+ years ago. Is it stronger than snus?

Dip and snus have a different type of nicotine hit for me (similar to the way cigarettes, pipes, and snuff have a different type of hit). Dip is closer to cigarettes for me–a big, sluggish hit of nicotine which is why it’s a good cigarette replacement for me. Snus is closer to snuff for me–a light, uplifting kind of nic hit.

Java - check out Baliyo (YouTube is best). More hand than elbow and even MORE more cool factor than the yo-yo One other way to go for those looking for ‘hand stuff’ is the Chineese Baoding Balls. No need to buy anything. Take two golfballs and theirs tons of videos like http://www.youtube.com/user/T3chl3ss#p/u/9/caJCwqGKRCY

" “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” - Mark Twain" This is funny, I am up to about 30 times. Recently I had a rather stressful time, and started the roll-ups -again. But I was able to kick them with snuff. Quitting with snuff was easy as pie, once I made up my mind to do so. That part is important, making up your mind. Also the idea of not agonizing and beating yourself up if you do have a smoke. Get to the 3 day mark, you’re practically home free. Once my nic levels drop to a certain level, I do get a rush from a few good pinches, and it is a rush found with no other method.

“…Also the idea of not agonizing and beating yourself up if you do have a smoke…” I think that’s the most crucial point of all. The thing that always held me back was that I was utterly terrified by the idea of NEVER SMOKING AGAIN. Once I got to the point where I could honestly say, “I can have a smoke if I want one, but I don’t really need one,” saying “no” to a cigarette became monumentally easier. Of course, snus and snuff were tremendously helpful in that regard.

I found saying “I will have one the second I need one” was the best self-help technique I ever used on myself - there was a kind of safety net there. I also stopped feeling guilty about the prospect of needing a smoke - a lot of times when we fail there is almost a need to apologise or be shame faced about it - dumping that pile of bullshit helped greatly. You can only stop for yourself, not to please others. And, 100%, dwelling on never having the object of your desire again, ever, in the midst of chronic withdrawal is no way to go. Smoke if it gets too bad, take a lot of snuff, take one day at a time and have a bit of discipline. And if you don’t succeed, be philosophical not heartbroken. At the end of the day, who gives a…

I found I enjoy cigs too much to ever completely give them up, but I only smoke at work (few a day) and 1-2/day on the weekends. The rest of the time I’m either snuffing or vaping. Funny enough, because I roll my own cigs using pipe tobacco they actually come out to be cheaper than e-liquid and atomizers (although I’m thinking on trying those new dual-coil cartomizers instead of atties). Still and all, I credit snuff for knocking down a 1.5 pack-a-day habit to a few a day…

I used snuff to quit smoking the cigarettes. Worked like a charm. Snuff is just so much more enjoyable to me. I love the smells… So awesome!

@James S. - way to go, RYO’s out of pipe tobacco! I used to do that with Condor, you’re the only other person I’ve come across who does that. I won’t give up completely either - I just like having the capacity to smoke if I want, which in some obscure way translates to hardly ever doing it in my case. I don’t like this approach of never having a smoke again.

Well I mean, you go to the smoke shop and there’s a tiny segment of cig tobacco at the ridiculously high taxed $24 per 6 oz, and next to it is 4 shelving units of pipe tobacco at the good old reasonably $7 per 6 oz. Same companies, same shag cut, uncased leaf. Same stuff, different label, the FDA is hopping mad about it. GOOD!

@James NOT GOOD! I am all for creative attempts to circumvent the nanny state in theory, but this trend of relabelling rolling tobacco can only end badly for those of use who smoke real pipe tobacco. This subterfuge has not gone unnoticed, and its probably only a matter of time until the tax rate on pipe tobacco is raised drastically. The end result is that attempts to punitively tax cigarettes will end up harming those of us who actually smoke our tobacco in pipes.

@tybalt I’ve thought the same thing. It kinda pissed me off when i found out they started labeling it that because I knew they were gonna start taxing pipe tobacco any day. Has the government already taken notice of practice of this? Also, do you think they will try to stop the internet sale of pipe tobacco too?

I don’t believe that there is any legislation or regulation pending, but given the number of lawyers who work for the states and federal government in tobacco enforcement, and the new regulatory powers of the FDA, I have a hard time believing that this hasn’t been noticed.

There was an invitation for public comment in the TTB* and there was scheduled to be a ruling on definition of pipe tobacco. However, in the middle of the process the FDA pulled out. I suspect this was on the advice of lawyers saying that it (a pipe tobacco ruling) would violate the law by contradicting the definitions in the law** that pipe tobacco is anything for use in a pipe and labeled as such. * http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-17957.pdf (middle column 1st page) ** http://www.ttb.gov/main\\_pages/pipe-tobacco.shtml It would take an act of Congress to change the tax rate. That’s certainly a potential problem for pipe tobacco. Yes they (TTB and Congress) have definitely noticed. There was a bit of talk, some quite angry, about reworking the law to avoid the renaming loophole. If I remember correctly it was dropped as not having support in the House of Representatives. One thing of note, it was the big cigarette companies who lobbied for the RYO tax as a way to cut competition.

Xapken, Thanks of the info, I’m glad we have people that are on top of developments in this area. My own thinking on this is that, while there may not be any changes in the short term, the chances for eventual negative developments are probably high. At least that’s what I tell myself everytime I buy more tobacco for the cellar

@tybalt A wise move. Not to mention the aging improves many blends

@tybalt, You know what, you’re right and my apologies, I certainly don’t want our pipesmokers getting dinged either. Without veering into the political side of things (as it’s against Snuffhouse policy), suffice it to say I found an overnight 2400% tax hike on RYO cig tobacco absolutely ridiculous and was happy that for now, at least, I can obtain smokeable cig leaf at a reasonable price. But you’re right, with the increased sales of this uncased shag-cut “pipe” tobacco, yes there is the risk you mentioned. If it’s any consolation I only go through about six ounces a month. I do miss my American Spirit dreadfully but not for nearly $40 a can…

@James No apologies necessary. I completely understand the plight of the handrollers out there. I used to roll my own years ago, and there is simply no comparison between a good roll up of jester, three castles, bali shag etc and a marlboro. The economics of the tax increase were simply ruinous for the makers of rolling tobacco, and I understand why they went the “pipe tobacco” route, since the alternative was likely going out of business. All that being said, I just have a sinking feeling that the blatant loophole seeking of the ryo industry is going to have negative ramifications down the road.

Only difference berween the pipe tob ryo and cig ryo is the grind when I was still smoking I actually used a paper shredder to obtain the same grind, and would get almost 600 cigs out of a 16oz bag, but thankfully I was reintroduced to snuff and the proper usage so i am down to post coitus cig and possibly an after dinner smoke or occasional pipe!

@tybalt, yeah and it’s hard to find the good smaller companies like Bali Shag or Three Castles because they didn’t go that route, only the more mass-production brands like Gambler (et al) are doing the “pipe” tobacco route. If I didn’t live in the suburbs with a very small yard I’d seriously consider growing my own and setting up a curing box in the garage, but that’s just not feasible. I have heard on other threads here that some folks are buying whole cured leaf by mail-order (since it’s only a leaf and not considered a tobacco “product”); perhaps one day I could go that route…

James ill look through my old email tomorrow there is a site outta cali i believe, with good prices on whole leaf, also look atound there are threads just for that. Where you from btw?

Cool, I’ll check it out! Mind you I’m too supremely lazy to do anything about it right now, but if the prices start to skyrocket I’m sure I’ll huff and puff and order some. I’m in the Metro Detroit area, you?

Outside Philadelphia, Pa. Hey I couldnt find that website but if you know what kind of tobacco and tubes you like (pipe tobacco style), I will get it and shred the tobacco for you if you pay for the product and shipping. Didomenico4@gmail.com email me and we will figure something out. Can you get any snuff easily, not via mr.snuff or any of those other sites? If so what kinds? Maybe we can work out a good trade system or something

Ah I’m good for now, I was more referring to a possible future when pipe tobacco gets taxed like RYO…for right now I just use 4 Aces full flavor and it works like a champ! But I appreciate the offer! As for snuff here in Detroit, not so much luck…one might find dry snuff in a few liquor stores downtown but that’s about it…

An update on my situation: it has been over 7 days since my last cigarette… guess I’ll change my answer to “yep, sure did”.

@Pennanngalan congratulations! It’s been a couple weeks for me. I have “triggers” for cigarettes. Every time I go to the city and hang out with my smoker friends, obviously. Lately I’ve been watching Mad Men and I’d kill for a Lucky Strike.

@Pennanngalan Outstanding!

I thank you both. It was fairly rough since my main trigger is climbing into the cab of my dozer at work. Just couldn’t change that habit to aid quitting since the wife and kiddies need to eat @ Pike Mopers - Luckie Strikes are my favorite brand of smokes! They’re just so tasty! Expensive as all hell though.

Keep up the good, guys! Way to go.

Awhile back congress was considering increase the pipe tobacco tax because of this loop hole. It didn’t happen. I wrote a couple of congressmen explaining that taxing pipe tobacco because of people exploiting loop-holes would end up punishing law-abiding citizens and that it would be much better to find a more direct way to close the loop hole like a more clear cut definition of pipe tobacco. I’am know lots of other pipe smokers wrote their congressmens too. Plus I reminded that punishing a voteing demographic that while being relativily small cuts into several diverse demographics, is a great way to lose votes and make voters feel embattled. I have no idea how well it worked but it hasn’t happened yet. And got a few responses back. Sorry but it to me it looks like this loophole will get closed at some point probably pretty silently. Cause it’s a tax revenue that is actualy pretty big. Though unlike with pact the hobbiest distinction seemed to help so maybe that’s the angle to go with rolling tobacco.

Well I was done and 2 or 3 weeks good. Then the wife went on a one week trip to see her sister. Hanging around alone at home, had the urge to be a “bad” boy, started rolling again. Sigh. The good news is now whenever I inhale, it make me hiccup. So, time to quit again, my 199th time lol.

Sprangers me old mucker, nice to see you about the place…

Nasal snuff got me interested in giving up smoking but Swedish snus made me successful in quitting. I like a pinch of nasal snuff every now and again.

Have you tried taking very large pinches? Most occasional or new snuffers never get to appreciate how snuff can be because of the tendency to take tiny little amounts - which are a lot more irritating, and lower in nicotine, than a large pinch.

agreed

i will try it… have some nice Fribourg and Treyer Macouba here

@Transistor - this is my mission in life now!

@snuffster what- spreading the knowledge? ha ha It’s true!

For ‘doubtful quitters’ I suggests the ‘straw method’ (as discussed in other threads): cut 2-3 inches of bendable straw or I.V./air tube. Use fine ground snuff. Dip one end in snuff until you have 1-2cm. Stick in nose midway up, aiming for top. Other end goes in mouth. Hold your breath. Using **only your tongue** to compress the air, blow that wad sky high. If your daring, take the *smallest* of sniffs to penetrate the sinuses. If you still want a cig after 3 min, get back to me. (this is NOT the way to savor snuff as an aromatic)