PREVALENCE, PATTERNS, AND CORRELATES OF SPIT TOBACCO USE IN A COLLEGEATHLETE POPULATION

We surveyed varsity athletes (N = 1,328) in 16 California colleges abo ut their patterns of spit (smokeless) tobacco (ST) use, related habits , reasons for use, and preferred methods for quitting. Prevalence of u se was analyzed by sport and demographic characteristics, and patterns of use in players using snuff exclusively, using chewing tobacco excl usively, and those using both were compared. Odds ratios and 95% confi dence intervals were calculated, adjusting for ethnic group. Prevalenc e was highest in Whites (44%) and Native Americans (48%) and lowest in African Americans (11%), and higher in varsity baseball (52%) than va rsity football players (26%), in players attending rural colleges, and among those who ever smoked cigarettes or used alcohol. Forty-one per cent of ST users initiated regular use during their high school years. Athletes who used snuff exclusively used it more intensively and for more years than those who used chewing tobacco exclusively. Snuff user s indicated a greater perceived need for ST, but also were more ready to quit. These data suggest ST programs with prevention and cessation components are appropriate for high school as well as college athletes . Such interventions should focus on baseball players, distinguish snu ff from chewing tobacco users in planning quit strategies, integrate i ntervention programs for cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, pr ovide training in refusal skills, and attempt to change social norms i n support of ST use by integrating popular peers and significant other s (e.g., wives/girlfriends) to endorse nonuse of ST.