Relationship between cigarette, smokeless tobacco, and cigar use, and other health risk behaviors among US high school students

This study examined relationships between tobacco use and use of other subs tances, intentional injury risk behaviors, and sexual risk behaviors among US high school students. Data about tobacco use and other health risk behav iors were analyzed from the 1997 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey implem ented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One-fourth of stud ents (24%) reported current use of a single tobacco product tie, cigarettes smokeless tobacco, or cigars during the 30 days preceding the survey, and 19.5% reported currently using more than one tobacco product. Generally, st udents who reported current tobacco use also reported engaging in other sub stance use, intentional injury risk behaviors, and sexual risk behaviors. F or many risk behaviors, these results were especially pronounced among stud ents who reported using two or all three tobacco products. Programs designe d to prevent tobacco use should consider that such use often occurs concomi tantly with other health risk behaviors.