Who uses snus? A study of Texas adolescents

Snus, a smokeless tobacco product, was introduced in the United States in 2006. Because it is available in a variety of flavors and is relatively easy to conceal, snus might be particularly attractive to adolescents. Yet, no studies have examined snus use in U.S. adolescents. This brief report examined (a) differences between adolescent snus users and non-snus users on a variety of demographic, behavioral, and intrapersonal factors and (b) prevalence of snus use among current users of various other tobacco products versus nontobacco users.

Participants were 8,472 6th- to 12th-grade students who voluntarily completed the 87-item Texas Youth Tobacco Survey during class time.

Overall, 7.1% of students reported ever trying snus; of these, 77% were male, 68% were in high school, and 46% were White. Mixed-effects regression models indicated that the prevalence of cigarette, chew, cigar, and alcohol use was higher among snus users than among non-snus users. Compared with non-snus users, snus users performed more poorly in school and perceived snus, cigarettes, chew, and cigars to be less dangerous. Finally, current users of cigarettes, chew, and cigars had a higher prevalence of snus use than did their peers who did not use the respective products.

Among U.S. adolescents, snus use may be part of a constellation of health compromising behaviors. Additional research is needed to determine who is using snus and identify the determinants and consequences of snus use, all of which can inform interventions and policies aimed at decreasing tobacco use among youth.