title: Young adult smoker risk perceptions of traditional cigarettes and nontraditional tobacco products.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore risk perceptions of traditional and nontraditional tobacco products (NTPs) among young adult smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups with African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics. Risk ratings of light, regular, and menthol cigarettes and of NTPs and marijuana and cigarettes were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants tended to view light cigarettes as safer than regular cigarettes. Shisha and herbal products were rated as safer than traditional cigarettes, but there were differences in ratings by race/ethnicity, related to preferred cigarette variety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health communication messages about the use of cigarettes and NTPs should consider risk perceptions about the products and racial/ethnic differences.
authors.affiliation: Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. pir1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Pederson
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: O'Hegarty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013714:Tennessee; D013781:Texas; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American; D062789:Tobacco Products