Relationship between Cigarette, Smokeless Tobacco, and Cigar Use, and Other Health Risk Behaviors among U.S. High School Students

This study examined relationships between tobacco use and use of other substances, intentional injury risk behaviors, and sexual risk behaviors among US high school students. Data about tobacco use and other health risk behaviors were analyzed from the 1997 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One-fourth of students (24%) reported current use of a single tobacco product (ie, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or cigars during the 30 days preceding the survey), and 19.5% reported currently using more than one tobacco product. Generally, students who reported current tobacco use also reported engaging in other substance use, intentional injury risk behaviors, and sexual risk behaviors. For many risk behaviors, these results were especially pronounced among students who reported using two or all three tobacco products. Programs designed to prevent tobacco use should consider that such use often occurs concomitantly with other health risk behaviors.