Nicotine to “suck” it’s the footballers’ drug: one in 5 takes “snus”

The study commissioned by the English Football Association: everyone takes it, it's everywhere. To not eat or to relax. And it hurts

ROME – About one professional player in five, both male and female, “chops” snus, the wet or powdered nicotine sold in sachets that is taken orally. Do not smoke. It’s a real drug, more or less legal, in the sector. The numbers of one now also certify it study by Loughborough University, commissioned by the English Professional Footballers’ Association.

The report states that actual usage figures are likely to be higher. In any case, of the 628 male players interviewed, in Premier League or EFL clubs, 18% declared they use it, while 22% of the 51 players from the Women’s Super League who responded declared they were regular users.

Why? They say it “wakes them up,” but 41% of male players say they also use it to relax, most commonly after practices or games. The figure rises to 64% among female players. But they also use it as an appetite suppressant, according to the report.

There are obviously potential negative physical impacts, snus use is associated with an increased risk of esophageal and pancreatic cancer compared to non-smokers and an increased risk of disease cardiovascular. There is clear evidence of an association between snus use and mouth lesions.

Snus contains tobacco and is not legally available to buy in the UK, but tobacco-free nicotine pouches – which are the most commonly used among gamblers – are legal. The sachets are usually placed between the upper lip and the gums.

A member of staff at one club said he met a player whose career has been spent mainly in the Premier League and Championship who described himself as a “heavy user” and who confessed it was almost impossible to quit. “It’s just everywhere. All the other players get it. It’s just too easy.”

The clubs have banned it, also because there is a risk of a positive anti-doping result if the products purchased online or via social media are contaminated. But the ban evidently had no effect.

READ ALSO: Goodbye cigarettes, footballers use ‘snus’: tobacco that is not smoked (and illegal in the EU)