Trends in smokeless tobacco use among smokers in Alaska

Audience:

Information in this poster will benefit tobacco control researchers and evaluators.

Key Points:

The tobacco industry has promoted smokeless tobacco (SLT) to smokers as a substitution for cigarettes when smoking is not possible, and some smokers are using SLT this way.  

Using Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data on adult (aged 18+ years) males (n = 16,590) from 1996-2008, we examined trends in SLT use by smoking status and trends in cigarette consumption among dual SLT users and smokers (dual users).

Between 1996-2008, overall age-adjusted prevalence of current SLT use and of current smoking among Alaskan men did not significantly change over time. The prevalence of current SLT use remained unchanged over time among former and never smokers, but almost doubled among current smokers (age-adjusted p = .004). Between 2004-2008, cigarette consumption remained steady among current smokers who did not use SLT, but significantly decreased among dual users (age-adjusted p < .001).

Our findings suggest that male smokers in Alaska might be increasingly substituting some cigarettes with SLT over time, but not quitting smoking altogether. We recommend that other states examine these trends to confirm our findings.

Educational Experience:

The audience will learn the key points visually through graphs, tables and bullet points, and through dialogue with the presenter.

Benefits:

Understand importance of examining trends in SLT use by smoking status and trends in cigarette consumption among dual users. Gain knowledge about methods for examining trends in SLT by smoking status.