Tobacco use, heavy use, and dependence among adolescents and young adults in the United States.

Tobacco involvement among US youth was investigated in a national survey conducted in 2005-2007 of 2,274 respondents aged 14-21, including those not in school. Logistic regressions predicted tobacco involvement. Males had higher rates of tobacco use than females, but males and females had equal rates of heavy use and dependence. Tobacco involvement increased with age. Whites were more tobacco involved than minorities. Tobacco involvement declined with increasing socioeconomic status. Reduced tobacco use was associated with being married and with being a student. Smokeless tobacco use was associated with being male, older, white, and lower socioeconomic status. The implications of these results are discussed.