Hey everyone, my name is Tanner, I started chewing in August 2013, January 5th 2015 was my last day of dipping. I started with Grizzly Wintergreen pouches in the summer of 2013, two of my buddies had recently started, so one day we all were at a gas station and I bought a can for us to share. As soon as I put the first pouch in, I knew I was hooked. I felt my inhibitions dissappear, I was talking with a confidence I hadn't felt before, I was excited to try this new thing, I had drank heavily, smoked cigarettes in high school and messed around with other substances after graduation, none of it made me feel better than that first can of Grizzly. I continued to dip, even after my mom found a can in my jeans, my dad tried to get me to quit after seeing me chew one time(my parents are divorced, and speaking to my dad or even about him is a big stressor) my grandparents found spitters that I had left behind at their house, worst of all, my 6 year old cousin found a can and spitter, and tried to hide it, knowing it was mine and I would have been scolded. I switched Camel Snus briefly, simply because I wanted that nicotine buzz while working. I work in the music industry, I am a drum tech, I work long hours, around grumpy, bitter people, and I have to take a fair amount of crap from the older crew members, the majority of which are smokers, so dipping around them was a way of proving my equality...I know, how stupid, "I'm willing to get cancer just like you guys! See, I'm one of you! ". Copenhagen Mint, long cut ended up being my go to. AT LEAST a can a day for about 8 months, I always had two cans with me, especially at work. After the new year I went to the doctor for a simple visit for a bug I had picked up. The doc examined me and immediately got to the point, he informed me that I have Leukoplakia on the upper right side of my mouth. I walked out of the building, took my spitter and brand new cans and chucked them out of the window while driving. I haven't dipped, chewed, nothing, in 8 days. It's definitely taking a toll on me. The way I see it, I don't have a choice of relapse, it's either quit or fuel the cancer. Thank you for reading.
