Other Tobacco Products (OTP's)
OTP’s come in many different shapes, sizes, flavors and prices. OTP’s are often marketed as safer, cheaper, able to use in non-smoking environments, or more discreet than cigarettes.
Youth smokeless tobacco use is on the rise in Wisconsin, for many of the reasons listed above. Here are a few more facts about OTP’s:
- Smokeless tobacco advertising and promotion spending has nearly tripled from 1996 to 2006.
- Candy flavors and bright colors make smokeless products more appealing to youth.
o Flavors include chocolate, vanilla, mint, dreamsicle, berry, sweet red wine, peach, strawberry, mango, among others.
- New products are packaged in containers that look like candy or mints.
Marketing of Tobacco Products: Luring New Users
OTP's gain popularity through Big Tobacco's marketing strategies. These strategies include:
- Placing product near candy, which is visible and noticeable to children. Often placed lower to the floor.
- Candy and fruit flavors to attract younger users.
- Controlling dosage of tobacco (Dissolvable products and snus) and giving "how-to" instructions for new users.
Often "how-to" videos and instructions are placed by people on social media sites
Smokeless and other new products are not a safe alternative to smoking.
- Despite the tobacco industry’s claims of reduced health risks, OTP’s are still deadly.
- The health consequences of OTP’s include oral, throat and pancreatic cancer, tooth loss, gum disease and increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
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