Smokeless use up among US high school athletes

US high school athletes who play on sports teams smoke tobacco products at a lower rate than non-athletes, but use smokeless tobacco at a higher rate, according to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) in yesterday’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In a press note issued through USNewswire, the CDCP said that data from national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) had shown that while current use of combustible tobacco products (cigarettes and cigars) had dropped from 2001 (31.5 percent) to 2013 (19.5 percent) among all high school students, current use of smokeless tobacco had remained unchanged among non-athletes (5.9 percent) and had increased among athletes (10.0 percent to 11.1 percent).

The data was said to show a relationship between the number of sports teams on which an athlete played and his or her tobacco use. Athletes who played on multiple sports teams used smokeless tobacco more and combustible tobacco less. During 2013, the prevalence of smokeless use was 5.9 percent, 10.2 percent, 11.5 percent and 12.5 percent among students participating respectively in zero, one, two, or three or more sports teams. But combustible tobacco use was 21.3 percent, 19.6 percent, 17.1 percent, and 15.8 percent among students participating respectively in zero, one, two, or three or more sports teams.

‘The lower use of combustible tobacco products might result from athletes’ awareness of how smoking can hurt athletic performance,’ the press note said. ‘The higher use of smokeless tobacco suggests athletes may perceive these products as harmless, socially acceptable, or perhaps even as a way to boost athletic performance. However, smokeless tobacco contains nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals and may increase the risk of death from heart disease and stroke. Notable athletes with a history of smokeless tobacco use have been diagnosed with or died from oral cancer.’