title: Tobacco use among southwestern Alaska Native people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined the characteristics, attitudes, beliefs, and exposure to tobacco products in a cohort of rural dwelling Alaska Native (AN) people.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a study of 400 of AN adult tobacco  users and nonusers living in Southwestern Alaska. Questionnaires covered variables such as demographics, tobacco-use history, current tobacco use and dependence scales, general health status, attitudes and beliefs about tobacco, and quitting history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population smoked 7.8 cigarettes per day compared with 16.8 on average for the U.S. population: a significant proportion of the population engaged in dual use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Over one third (40.9%), first tried tobacco at age 11 or younger. The mean measures of tobacco addiction (e.g., Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, Severson Scale of Smokeless Tobacco Dependence) scores were lower compared with other U.S. populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Very high tobacco-use prevalence, dual product use, and early tobacco use are observed in Southwestern AN people. Unexpectedly these did not appear to be correlated with heavier individual tobacco use or higher levels of addiction in this population.
authors.affiliation: Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. ccrenner@anthc.org
authors.forename: Caroline C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Anne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lanier
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: Joni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Christi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parascandola
authors.forename: Neal L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Benowitz
authors.forename: Rachel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tyndale
authors.forename: Dorothy K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hatsukami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult