Bidis: Understanding Health Hazards and Effective Quitting Strategies
Bidis, also known as beedis, are small hand-rolled tobacco cigarettes flavored with sweet essences. Despite their appealing taste, they contain nicotine and harmful toxins that pose serious health risks.
Bidis are not a safer substitute for conventional cigarettes.
Since December 20, 2019, the legal age to purchase cigarettes, cigars, or any tobacco products in the U.S. has been raised to 21 years.
Bidis (pronounced bee-dees) are petite hand-rolled cigarettes made by wrapping tobacco in tendu or temburni leaves (Diospyros melanoxylon), plants native to Asia. Manufactured primarily in India and Southeast Asia, these products are exported globally.
In India, bidis are more affordable and widely used compared to commercial cigarettes. A common myth is that their lower price means they are less harmful; however, bidis are equally dangerous and can lead to fatal lung and heart diseases.
Quick Overview
Bidis are hazardous and not a safe smoking option. Although federal regulations have reduced bidi use in the U.S., some individuals continue to smoke these harmful products. Discover how bidis differ from traditional cigarettes, their production process, and associated health dangers.
What Exactly Are Bidis?
Health experts sometimes call bidis "cigarettes with training wheels" due to their appealing look and flavor, especially to youth. Similar to clove cigarettes, their taste and appearance attract younger users.
Bidis are often tied at one or both ends with colorful strings and come in various flavors favored by younger smokers, including chocolate, mango, vanilla, lemon-lime, mint, pineapple, and cherry.
Bidis became popular in the U.S. during the mid-1990s because they were easier to obtain than traditional cigarettes, delivered a nicotine rush, were small, flavored, and resembled marijuana joints.
Note that bidi cigarettes are unrelated to the Bidi brand of disposable vaping products.
How Are Bidis Manufactured?
Bidis are produced mainly in India and Southeast Asian countries by hand-rolling unprocessed tobacco inside tendu or temburni leaves. They are then secured with colorful strings.
Health Dangers Linked to Bidis
In some ways, bidis pose greater health risks than regular U.S.-made cigarettes.
- Bidis contain three to five times more nicotine than traditional cigarettes, increasing the risk of nicotine addiction.
- They have higher levels of tar and carbon monoxide compared to regular cigarettes.
- Because bidis lack additives that aid combustion, smokers inhale more toxins by taking deeper and more frequent puffs to keep the bidi lit.
Smoking bidis significantly raises the risk of oral, lung, stomach, and esophageal cancers. Additionally, bidi smokers face triple the risk of heart disease and heart attacks compared to nonsmokers. Bidi use is also linked to emphysema and heightens the chance of chronic bronchitis.
Nicotine Content in Bidis
Studies show bidis contain about 21.2 mg/g of nicotine, substantially more than the 16.3 mg/g found in filtered cigarettes. This elevated nicotine level contributes to a higher likelihood of developing nicotine dependence among bidi smokers.
Are Bidis Banned in the U.S.?
By 1999, state attorneys general called for federal action to halt bidi imports to the U.S.
Bidis saw a sharp decline in February 2014 when the FDA ordered the removal of four bidi brands—Sutra Bidis, Sutra Bidis Red, Sutra Bidis Menthol, and Sutra Bidis Red Cone—from the market.
The manufacturer failed to provide evidence that these products did not pose new or unique health risks to the public.
This marked the first tobacco ban under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, empowering the FDA to regulate tobacco products in the U.S.
Although bidis can still be purchased online, their popularity in the U.S. has significantly diminished since the ban.
Summary
While bidis remain available online, their use has declined following FDA restrictions on certain brands. Remember, as of December 20, 2019, purchasing tobacco products in the U.S. requires being at least 21 years old.
Strategies to Quit Smoking Bidis
Bidis are detrimental to health and should never be viewed as a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes. Their popularity among youth makes it crucial for parents to educate children early about the risks of bidi smoking.
If you aim to stop smoking bidis or any tobacco product, consider the following approaches:
Consult Your Healthcare Provider
Discuss your quitting plan with your doctor, who can suggest the best methods and may prescribe medications to ease withdrawal and control nicotine cravings.
Explore Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT)
NRT products like gum, lozenges, sprays, and patches can help reduce nicotine intake gradually, minimizing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Develop a Craving Management Plan
Cravings are normal; having strategies to cope improves success. For instance, when a craving hits, take a walk, listen to music, call a supportive friend, or engage in a hobby.
Be Patient and Prioritize Self-Care
Quitting smoking is challenging, whether quitting bidis or other tobacco products. Celebrate small victories and maintain patience throughout the process.
Ensure adequate rest, stay physically active, and maintain a balanced diet.
Support from friends, family, and quit-smoking groups can be invaluable. Consider using quit-smoking apps to stay motivated.
Additional Resources
- Conditions A-Z
- Addiction
- Nicotine Dependence
- Coping and Recovery
References
- Duong M, Rangarajan S, Zhang X, et al. Effects of bidi smoking on all-cause mortality and cardiorespiratory outcomes in men from South Asia: An observational community-based substudy of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (PURE). The Lancet Global Health. 2017;5(2):e168-e176. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30004-9
- Cision PR Newswire. Bidi Vapor receives FDA PMTA acceptance letter for all 11 Bidi Stick products.
- American Cancer Society. Is any type of tobacco product safe?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bidis and kreteks.
- Singh S, Soumya M, Saini A, Mittal V, Singh UV, Singh V. Breath carbon monoxide levels in different forms of smoking. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci. 2011 Jan-Mar;53(1):25-8. PMID:21446221
- Malson JL, Sims K, Murty R, Pickworth WB. Comparison of the nicotine content of tobacco used in bidis and conventional cigarettes. Tob Control. 2001;10(2):181-183. doi:10.1136/tc.10.2.181
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - an overview.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Selling tobacco products in retail stores.
- American Cancer Society. Nicotine replacement therapy to help you quit tobacco.
By Terry Martin
Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and now advocates for those overcoming nicotine addiction.
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