WebQuest- Smokeless Tobacco: Background info

Most people agree that smoking is bad for your health. This Web Quest takes a
look at an alternative to smokingsmokeless tobacco!
Introduction
Tobacco use is a major health problem in our country. The federal and provincial
public health departments spend very large amounts of money encouraging and
supporting people in their efforts to stop smoking. Recently, Dr. Carl Phillips at
the University of Alberta accepted research funding from a tobacco company to
investigate the health effects of smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is any
tobacco product that is consumed without smoking it, and includes chewing
tobacco and snuff. Smokeless tobacco is being advocated by some people as an
alternative for smokers having difficulty quitting smoking. They argue that these
products are less harmful than smoked tobacco, and so will benefit the health of
those who cannot quit using tobacco entirely.

In this Web Quest, you will research the arguments for and against the use of
smokeless tobacco. There are strong opinions on both sides. Some groups argue
that any tobacco is harmful, and that a common goal should be to end all use of
tobacco products. Others maintain that smokeless tobacco is less harmful than
smoked tobacco and that any move towards greater health, such as replacing
smoked with smokeless tobacco, should be supported. There are other views as
well, including those of smokers rights groups.
-What are the issues surrounding the use of this drug?
-Is it really an acceptable alternative or is it just as unhealthy?
Explore this issue and form an opinion on whether you agree or disagree with
using federal money to support research on smokeless tobacco.

Context
Your team has been asked to make a presentation to the grants committee of the local
University. A tobacco company has offered to fund one of the University research labs to
explore the health impacts of smokeless tobacco. The grants committee is concerned
about funding research into products that are known to cause health problems,
particularly if that funding is coming from large and powerful tobacco companies.
Your job is to analyze possibilities, look at a variety of perspectives, and come up
with a recommendation on whether or not the University should take the grant money.

Assessment Criteria
Your completed Web Quest will be assessed according to the following criteria:

In your final product you must:

Include the questions you came up with to help you with your research
Describe the effects of tobacco on your respiratory system (which structures are affected
and how are they affected?)
How does tobacco affect respiration (the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen) and
breathing?
Assess at least two alternatives to normal tobacco (smoked)
*Justify why they would/wouldnt be a good solution
Include at least 3 different perspectives on the issue.
Include arguments for and against smokeless tobacco (Be sure to back up your
arguments with evidence)
Include instances of Canadian support for technology/scientific development.
Discuss how is technology being used to try and solve problems.
Include your recommendation to the grant committee
(Should they take money from tobacco companies to fund research into smokeless
tobacco? Or should they refuse?)

Working collaboratively

While you are working, ensure that each member of the team is assigned a
different task (ie. looking up certain stake holders and presenting certain
information, creating a slide on one aspect of a stakeholder groups viewpoint,
etc.)
*There will be a peer evaluation portion.

*You can compile the information in any way you like (ie. a paper/essay, powerpoint,
poster, webcast/ video, etc.)
*There

is an oral summary component. At some point come to me and summarizing the

views you chose, their position on the issue, and your recommendation.

Procedure
1. Form a group, and divide the work/research among each of your team members.
Write it down and give the paper to me (Mrs. Kozak).
2. Use the list of links below to get your information, and to find the perspectives
that you want to include.

http://tobaccoharmreduction.org/index.htm
This site provides information on smokeless tobacco from the Alberta Smokeless Tobacco
Education and Research Group at the University of Alberta. The links on the site include a radio
interview with Dr. Phillips

http://www.quitsmokeless.org/
A website dedicated to helping smokeless tobacco users quit. There are links to articles on
tobacco and health.

http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/smokeless-tobacco-facts
Facts about smokeless tobacco and its use. Also includes information on health issues and
quitting smokeless tobacco.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/pubs/tobac-tabac/smokeless-sansfumee/index-eng.php
This is Health Canadas site on smokeless tobacco or spit. The page outlines the risks of
smokeless tobacco use. Feel free to search on the Health Canada webpage for other links to the
issue.

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/smokeless-tobacco
This website, from the American Cancer Society, outlines the major health risks of using
smokeless tobacco, and provides a link at the bottom of the page to a guide and support for
quitting.

http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA510.html
This article describes the authors position that health activists are suppressing information on
smokeless tobacco, which is considered to be a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco.

http://www.swedishmatch.com/en/Sustainability/Social-responsibility/

Select Social Responsibility and explore the topics in the left margin. This site discusses harm
reduction and current tobacco research.

http://forum.smokersclubinternational.com/viewforum.php?f=95
A collection of articles and viewpoints about the use of smokeless tobacco. This page covers
many different arguments and supporting viewpoints of promoting the use of smokeless tobacco
over smoked tobacco.