Type of tobacco product used: are there differences between university and community college students?

J Drug Educ. 2007;37(4):379-92. doi: 10.2190/DE.37.4.b.

Abstract

This article describes and compares smoking prevalence, types of tobacco products used, and motivation to quit among college students at universities and community colleges. Data were collected using the Florida Annual College Tobacco Survey (FACTS). Nine universities and eight community colleges participated in the study (n = 4973). Most students (69%) experimented with tobacco. Cigarettes were used more often (57.4%), followed by Black 'N Mild (31.8%), cigars (30.1%), kreteks/bidis (24.1%), smokeless tobacco (13.9%), and pipe (8.9%). University students were more likely than community college students to have tried kreteks/bidis and cigars (p < .05). University students experimented at a significantly earlier age with cigarettes and pipes while community college experimented at a significantly earlier age with cigars and kreteks/bidis (p < .05). The majority of cigarette smokers (62%) were not interested in quitting. The implications for college tobacco education programs are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / trends
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • Universities*