Association of smokeless tobacco use and smoking in adolescents in the United States: an analysis of data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey, 2011.

BACKGROUND: Using smokeless tobacco and smoking are behaviors that increase the risk of developing oral cancer, soft-tissue lesions, caries, periodontal disease and other oral conditions. The author conducted a study to examine use of smokeless tobacco and smoking by adolescents.
METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional analysis of participants with complete data regarding smoking, smokeless tobacco use and other variables of interest from the 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey (n = 9,655). The author performed descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: The unadjusted odds ratio for smokeless tobacco use and smoking was 9.68 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 7.72-12.13; P < .0001), and the adjusted odds ratio was 3.92 (95 percent CI, 2.89-5.31; P < .0001). Adolescents who used smokeless tobacco were more likely to be male, to smoke and to have engaged in binge drinking.
CONCLUSION: Adolescents who were using smokeless tobacco were more likely to be engaging in concomitant smoking and to be participating in other risk-taking behaviors. Practical Implications. Dentists are involved in helping patients with tobacco-use cessation. The association of smoking with using smokeless tobacco needs to be considered in the design of tobacco-use cessation programs for adolescents.