Patterns of smokeless tobacco use in a population of high school students.

We assessed the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use by 901 high school students in two Arkansas communities, and identified factors associated with initiation and maintenance. Results showed that 36.7 per cent of males and 2.2 per cent of females currently used smokeless tobacco. Modal responses indicated that if smokeless tobacco was used at all, it was used with frequency on an almost daily basis. Health professionals need to monitor this phenomenon closely and take appropriate preventive actions.