March 5, 2009 |
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Among persons aged 12 or older, past month smokeless tobacco use remained relatively stable in the range of 3.0 to 3.3 percent between 2002 and 2007 (Figure 1). This finding was consistent across most gender and age groups. However, among males aged 12 to 17, past month smokeless tobacco use increased significantly—from 3.4 percent in 2002 to 4.4 percent in 2007.
Year | Percent |
---|---|
2002 | 3.3% |
2003 | 3.3% |
2004 | 3.0% |
2005 | 3.2% |
2006 | 3.3% |
2007 | 3.2% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 to 2007 NSDUHs. |
Among persons aged 12 or older, the rate of recent initiation of smokeless tobacco use (i.e., first-time use of smokeless tobacco in the 12 months before the survey interview among all persons who had not previously used it) showed a modest, but statistically significant increase between 2002 and 2007 (from 0.5 to 0.6 percent) (Table 1). Initiation rates were higher in 2007 than in 2002 among males aged 12 to 17 and males aged 18 to 25. Among females, there were no statistically significant changes in initiation rates for any age group over the 6-year period.
Age Group/Gender | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
Aged 12 to 17 | ||||||
Male | 3.0% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 4.0% |
Female | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.2% |
Aged 18 to 25 | ||||||
Male | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 3.9% |
Female | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% |
Aged 26 or Older | ||||||
Male | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
Female | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 to 2007 NSDUHs. |
Combined 2002 to 2007 data indicate that an annual average of 3.2 percent of persons aged 12 or older (an estimated 7.8 million persons) used smokeless tobacco in the past month. Certain demographic subgroups were more likely to use smokeless tobacco than others. It was more likely to be used among persons aged 18 to 25 than among 12 to 17 year olds and those 26 or older (Table 2). Males were more likely than females to have used smokeless tobacco (6.2 vs. 0.4 percent). American Indians or Alaska Natives were more likely than persons in any other racial/ethnic category to have used smokeless tobacco.
Demographic and Geographic Characteristic |
Past Month |
---|---|
Age Group in Years | |
12 to 17 | 2.2% |
18 to 25 | 5.0% |
26 or Older | 3.0% |
Gender | |
Male | 6.2% |
Female | 0.4% |
Race/Ethnicity | |
White | 4.1% |
Black or African American | 1.4% |
American Indian or Alaska Native | 7.1% |
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 2.9% |
Asian | 0.6% |
Hispanic or Latino | 0.9% |
Two or More Races | 2.9% |
County Type | |
Large Metropolitan | 1.9% |
Small Metropolitan | 3.7% |
250,000 to 1 Million Population | 3.2% |
<250,000 Population | 4.7% |
Non-Metropolitan | 6.6% |
Urbanized | 5.5% |
Less Urbanized | 7.1% |
Completely Rural | 8.4% |
Region | |
Northeast | 1.7% |
Midwest | 3.7% |
South | 4.2% |
West | 2.4% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 to 2007 NSDUHs. |
Rates also varied by geographic characteristics. Past month smokeless tobacco use was highest among persons who lived in completely rural and less urbanized counties in non-metropolitan areas and lowest among persons who lived in large metropolitan areas. Persons who lived in the South and Midwest were more likely than persons who lived in the West and Northeast to have used smokeless tobacco.
Combined data from 2002 to 2007 indicate that an annual average of 1.1 million persons initiated use of smokeless tobacco in the past 12 months. This represents 0.6 percent of those at risk for initiation (i.e., those who had not previously used smokeless tobacco). Initiation of smokeless tobacco in the past 12 months was more likely to occur among youths aged 12 to 17 than among young adults aged 18 to 25 (2.2 vs. 1.8 percent). Both of these age groups had higher rates of initiation than adults aged 26 or older (0.1 percent). Among those at risk for initiation of smokeless tobacco use, the rate of recent initiation was higher among males than females (1.0 vs. 0.2 percent).
Combined data from 2002 to 2007 indicate that 85.8 percent of past month smokeless tobacco users used cigarettes at some time in their lives, and 38.8 percent used cigarettes in the past month (Figure 2). The rate of current cigarette use was 66.9 percent among past month smokeless tobacco users aged 18 to 25, 52.8 percent among those aged 12 to 17, and 29.3 percent among those aged 26 or older.
Cigarette Use | Total | Aged 12 to 17 |
Aged 18 to 25 |
Aged 26 or Older |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lifetime Cigarette Use | 85.8% | 84.3% | 92.2% | 84.1% |
Past Month Cigarette Use | 38.8% | 52.8% | 66.9% | 29.3% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 to 2007 NSDUHs. |
Combined 2004 to 2007 data indicate that, among persons who had used both smokeless tobacco and cigarettes in their lifetime, 31.8 percent started using smokeless tobacco first, 65.5 percent started using cigarettes first, and 2.7 percent initiated use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes at about the same time (i.e., within the same month) (Figure 3). Nearly half (47.0 percent) of past month smokeless tobacco users were former cigarette users (i.e., used cigarettes at some time in the past, but not in the past month). Some initiates of smokeless tobacco use may be cigarette smokers who are substituting smokeless tobacco as a way to quit smoking. Among daily smokers who initiated smokeless tobacco use, 88.1 percent were still smoking daily 6 months later.2
Sequence of Initiation | Percent |
---|---|
Cigarettes Initiated Prior to Smokeless Tobacco | 65.5% |
Smokeless Tobacco Initiated Prior to Cigarettes | 31.8% |
Initiated Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco within the Same Month | 2.7% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 to 2007 NSDUHs. |
Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents and has been linked to oral cancer and increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases.3, 4 Chewing tobacco leads to nicotine dependence, as does cigarette use. This report indicates that although rates of use remained stable between 2002 and 2007, there were increases among certain subpopulations—in particular, among adolescent males. Most smokeless tobacco users smoked cigarettes at some time in their lives, and most people who used both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco had used cigarettes first. It is important for current and former cigarette users to understand that smokeless tobacco use is not a healthy alternative to cigarette smoking.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The data used in this report are from the 2002 to 2007 NSDUHs. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2008). Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 08-4343, NSDUH Series H-34). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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This page was last updated on March 04, 2009. |