Recent trends in dual use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes

Audience:

Tobacco control professionals working at the national, state, and local levels

Key Points:

Smokeless tobacco products are available in a variety of new forms and flavors.  Major cigarette manufacturers, which now dominate the smokeless tobacco market, are promoting these products to smokers as an alternative they can use in smoke-free environments.  Some commentators have also suggested that smokers who cannot quit smoking should be encouraged to switch to smokeless tobacco use as part of a harm reduction strategy. 

We examined recent trends in youth and adult smokeless tobacco use and dual use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes using data from four surveys: the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Monitoring the Future, and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

The results of this analysis suggest that smokeless tobacco use is increasing among white adolescent boys and white young adult men.  Moreover, the results indicate that many smokeless tobacco users in these demographic groups are concurrently using cigarettes. 

Educational Experience:

Rather than helping wean smokers off cigarettes, smokeless tobacco may be being used in combination with cigarettes, in part to sustain nicotine addiction when smokers are in smoke-free environments. To the extent that concurrent use of smokeless tobacco delays or prevents quitting smoking, it would be expected to increase smoking-related morbidity and mortality.

Benefits:

The findings of this analysis can potentially inform public education and scientific research on dual use of smokeless tobacco products and cigarettes.