EVALUATION OF HIGH-RISK SMOKING PRACTICES USED BY THE HOMELESS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of high-risk smoking practices in a homeless population. High-risk cigarette smokin g practices include misuse of tobacco products or alternative methods of cigarette smoking that increase the likelihood of ingestion of toxi c substances and infectious agents that can potentiate the hazards ass ociated with cigarette smoking. An 84-item questionnaire was developed by the researcher to measure these practices. Fifty-six male and thre e female homeless people were interviewed in downtown Los Angeles. The most common high-risk smoking practices were cigarette sharing (86%); smoking cigarettes remade from discarded cigarette butts and filters (71%); smoking cigarettes remade by others (63%); smoking discarded ci garette butts (63%); blocking filter vents (24%); using things other t han tobacco, such as discarded cigarette filters and drugs, in remakin g cigarettes (22%); and smoking discarded cigarette filters (19%). The se high-risk smoking practices pose a greater risk of exposure to toxi ns trapped in filters and tobacco remains and increase the threat of i nfectious disease transmission. The long-term effects of high-risk smo king practices among the homeless have potential economic implications for society.