Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109385

Sonal Kishore, MPH candidate¹, Elizabeth M. Gaier Larkin, MS², Pamela Brackett, MNO², Jean Frank, MPH², and Scott, H. Frank, MD, MPH³. (1) Masters of Public Health, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106, 330-715-0830, Sonal.Kishore@case.edu, (2) Center for Adolescent Health, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., School of Medicine, WG-48, Cleveland, OH 44106, (3) Division of Public Health, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., School of Medicine, WG-57, Cleveland, OH 44106

Objective: This analysis examines differences in demographics, health attitudes, and behaviors between teens who: 1) do not use tobacco; 2) smoke only cigarettes; 3) smoke only cigars; and 4) smoke both cigarettes and cigars with emphasis on groups 3 and 4 as special risk categories. Methods: In the spring of 2004, the Center for Adolescent Health completed administration of the Partnership Youth Tobacco Survey to 4,409 teens in Cuyahoga County high schools. The standard survey question measuring cigar use was altered to increase accuracy. Countywide weighted prevalence was calculated and chi-square analysis determined differences between users of different tobacco products. Results: The survey revealed the surprising result that cigar use (22.7%) exceeds cigarette use (16.2%) in our area. In fact, 71.6% of teens do not use tobacco; 4.3% smoke only cigarettes; 10.6% smoke only cigars and 11.9% smoke both cigarettes and cigars. Other forms of tobacco use (chew, bidis, kreteks) represent 1.5% of teen use. Students who smoked each type of product differed significantly in demographics, behavior, and attitudes. Consistently, students who smoked both cigars and cigarettes demonstrated higher risk behaviors than cigarette or cigar only smokers. Paradoxically, cigarette and cigar smokers were more likely to recognize tobacco as a gateway to other alcohol and drug use than non smokers; and less likely to believe that smokers are perceived as cool by others. Conclusions: Cigars are a major component of teen tobacco use, which may indicate needed adjustments to current prevention and intervention efforts. Implications for preventive programming are discussed.

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