Online Program

281823
Multiple tobacco product use among adolescents


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Tracey E. Barnett, PhD, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Robert M. Weiler, PhD, MPH, Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Lisa Pealer, PhD, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Eric Soule, PhD, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Although cigarette use is declining among U.S. teens, smokeless tobacco and cigars have shown no decline in over 5 years according to YRBS trends. Alternative products pose negative health risks, and there is a risk for multiple tobacco product use. This study examined multiple tobacco product use among teens. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 4,178 9th-12th grade students enrolled in five high schools using the 2011 YRBS. Rates of current use (defined as any use in the past 30 days) were as follows: cigarettes (16.2%), cigar (13.9%), and smokeless tobacco (5.1%). Males (18.8%) reported higher cigarette use than females (13.6%; X2(1) = 20.2, p<.000), nearly double the cigar use (18.0% vs 9.9%; X2(1)=56.2, p<.000), and higher smokeless tobacco use (9.3% vs 1.0%; X2(1) = 147.0, p<.000). Current use of at least two or more products was reported by 10.1% of respondents. Males also reported current use of two or more products at twice the rate of females (14.1% vs 6.3%; X2(1) = 79.8, p<.000). National adolescent cigar use rates are unchanged since 2005, smokeless tobacco products are unchanged since 2003, whereas cigarette use has decreased among teens since 1997. New policies are aimed toward cigarettes, leaving cigars and smokeless tobacco unchanged. Given the likely exponential harm in multiple tobacco product use, efforts to curb all tobacco use needs to be addressed.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the current state of adolescent tobacco use, not only cigarettes but the threats from cigar and smokeless tobacco.

Keyword(s): Adolescents, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator on local and federally funded grants. I have studied adolescent substance use for over 10 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4264.0: Emerging Research in Tobacco