Alternative Tobacco Use among College Students: Who is at Highest Risk?

OBJECTIVE: To examines smoking status, substance use, sociodemographics, and psychosocial characteristics in relation to alternative tobacco use among college students. METHODS: Current tobacco use (cigarettes, cigar-like products, hookah, chew, snus) and correlates (sociodemographics, sensation-seeking, attitudes toward tobacco and smokers, social factors) were assessed among students aged 18-25 at 6 Southeastern US colleges using an online survey. RESULTS: Those who were younger, male, black, cigarette and marijuana users, and demonstrating at-risk psychosocial factors were at increased risk of alternative tobacco product use (p < .001). Among current smokers, never daily nondaily smokers were 3 times as likely as former daily non-daily smokers and daily smokers to use alternative tobacco products (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Important risk factors for alternative tobacco use included important sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics.