Use of smokeless tobacco among adults--United States, 1991.

Consumption of moist snuff and other smokeless tobacco products in the United States almost tripled from 1972 through 1991 (1). Long-term use of smokeless tobacco is associated with nicotine addiction and increased risk of oral cancer (2)--the incidence of which could increase if young persons who currently use smokeless tobacco continue to use these products frequently (1). To monitor trends in the prevalence of use of smokeless tobacco products, CDC's 1991 National Health Interview Survey-Health Promotion and Disease Prevention supplement (NHIS-HPDP) collected information on snuff and chewing tobacco use and smoking from a representative sample of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged > or = 18 years. This report summarizes findings from this survey.