B Rodu1, S Nasic, P Cole. 1. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. brad.rodu@louisville.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of snus use and of smoking among Swedish schoolchildren from 1989 to 2003. DESIGN: Surveys conducted by the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs. SETTING: All of Sweden. SUBJECTS: 84,472 boys and girls age 15-16 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects are classified as non-smokers, occasional smokers, and regular smokers, and into three similar categories for snus use. Tobacco use is reported as sex specific prevalence. RESULTS: During the period 1989 to 2003, the prevalence of tobacco use declined both among boys and girls. For boys, regular smoking declined after 1992 from 10% to 4%. Their snus use was about 10% in the 1990s but increased to 13% by 2003. Regular smoking among girls was 20% in early years and declined to 15%. Smoking among girls was always double that among boys. Patterns of occasional tobacco use were similar to those of regular use. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of snus use in Sweden not only reduces smoking rates among Swedish men, but suppresses smoking among boys as well.
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of snus use and of smoking among Swedish schoolchildren from 1989 to 2003. DESIGN: Surveys conducted by the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs. SETTING: All of Sweden. SUBJECTS: 84,472 boys and girls age 15-16 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects are classified as non-smokers, occasional smokers, and regular smokers, and into three similar categories for snus use. Tobacco use is reported as sex specific prevalence. RESULTS: During the period 1989 to 2003, the prevalence of tobacco use declined both among boys and girls. For boys, regular smoking declined after 1992 from 10% to 4%. Their snus use was about 10% in the 1990s but increased to 13% by 2003. Regular smoking among girls was 20% in early years and declined to 15%. Smoking among girls was always double that among boys. Patterns of occasional tobacco use were similar to those of regular use. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of snus use in Sweden not only reduces smoking rates among Swedish men, but suppresses smoking among boys as well.