As far as upholding traditions is concerned, commercial tobacco products pose a significant threat to indigenous or native communities. Often called traditional tobacco, native smokes are neither damaging to our health when used properly nor addictive.
However, commercial tobacco has a long history of targeting indigenous people with their marketing. The commercial industry takes advantage of icons and imagery to promote behaviours that go against Native people’s beliefs.
Leaving commercial products, such as chewing tobacco and vape pens and switching to native ones, such as Playfare smokes online, is a perfect way for Indigenous communities to improve their overall health.
Native Tobacco
Native tobacco is regarded as a sacred product or gift among most American Indian communities. They either use it for medicinal or spiritual purposes.
It is crucial to note that these native people are different and comprise many nations and tribes, all with a distinct relationship with tobacco and history.
Although ingredients and techniques vary across different communities, the products are hand-crafted carefully and respectfully provided for the following:
- Ceremony
- Healing
- Prayer
If used for medicinal purposes or ceremonies, the product is not linked to adverse health effects or addiction.
Commercial Tobacco
Manufacturers produce this product for both habitual and recreational purposes. It is mostly used in pipe tobacco, hookahs, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes, among other products. The product is mostly produced in mass quantities, and the manufacturers make it with the goal of selling and making a profit.
Compared to sacred tobacco, it contains many chemicals, and if burned, it emits more than 7k chemical compounds. Most of these compounds are carcinogenic and cause premature death, heart disease, and other illnesses.
The key addictive substance is nicotine. It causes immediate stimulation among users, often accompanied by depression that makes consumers crave more.
Apart from addiction, it also harms users’ health. It does this by constricting their blood vessels, raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate, and minimizing the supply of oxygen to different body tissues. With time, this weakens organs like the heart.
Traditional Teachings & Quitting Commercial Products
Using less or quitting commercial tobacco products is among the crucial things that we need to do for our health. The following values are based on traditional teachings, helping us make a change toward our healthy future:
1. Truth
Telling people the truth about the key differences between commercial and native tobacco is important. This will make a great difference in our communities.
2. Humility
If we vape, smoke tobacco, or use smokeless tobacco, it means we only put our needs ahead of our families. By smoking, our families get exposed to third and second-hand smoke. Our friends and families want us to live healthy and long lives.
3. Love
Quitting smokeless tobacco, smoking, or vaping is helpful for our health. We need to love ourselves by making this change.
4. Respect
Using a traditional commercial product disrespects sacred places of tobacco in our cultures. Prayer and thanksgiving are some of the ways of honouring tobacco.
5. Honesty
We need to be honest with ourselves about the health risks that come with using commercial products. When we use spit, smoke, or vape, we put our health and that of our families at risk.
In conclusion, native tobacco is important among indigenous communities. It helps reduce the high rate of using commercial tobacco and the health risks that come with it.