Smokeless tobacco use increases among boys (USA)

A federal agency said in a report on Thursday, the use of snuff and chewing tobacco by U.S. adolescent boys, particularly in rural areas, has surged this past decade. The use of this kind of tobacco increases the risk of oral cancer, heart disease and stroke. Just like cigarettes, it also leads to a nicotine addiction. According to the report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there is a 30 percent increase in the rate of smokeless tobacco use among boys aged 12 to 17 from 2002 to 2007. The use by adults has remained stable. The report estimated that 566,000 boys in that age group had used chewing tobacco or snuff in 2007. - redOrbit