August 31, 2011 - The addiction referral organization Teen Drug Abuse notes that young men and adolescent boys now make up 92 percent of smokeless tobacco consumers. Smokeless tobacco use among boys is on the rise, with 15 percent of U.S. high school boys admitting current use. Kids have an average start age of 12 years for smokeless tobacco use compared to 14 years for cigarette smoking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that chewing tobacco and snuff are the two most popular smokeless tobacco products in the United States. The CDC warns that smokeless tobacco contains 28 known carcinogens and should never be viewed as a safe alternative to cigarettes.

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