GITNUXREPORT 2025

Chewing Tobacco Statistics

Smokeless tobacco poses significant health risks, especially among young, male, and rural users.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Smokeless tobacco products contain nicotine, which leads to addiction

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Users of smokeless tobacco are at a higher risk for developing leukoplakia, a precancerous oral condition

Statistic 3

Approximately 13% of all oral cancers are linked to smokeless tobacco use

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The use of smokeless tobacco increases the risk of pancreatic cancer by about 80%

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Nicotine from smokeless tobacco is absorbed through the oral mucosa, leading to rapid addiction development

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Smokeless tobacco contains over 30 chemicals known to cause cancer

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The health risks associated with smokeless tobacco are similar to those of cigarette smoking, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases

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Smokeless tobacco use diminishes oral health, leading to issues like gum recession and tooth decay

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The use of smokeless tobacco during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of stillbirth and low birth weight

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Approximately 1 in 5 deaths from oral cavity and pharynx cancers are attributable to smokeless tobacco use

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Smokeless tobacco increases the risk of dental leukoplakia, which can potentially develop into oral cancer

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Chewing tobacco and snuff are responsible for roughly 10% of all oral cancers in the U.S.

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Smokeless tobacco users are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop precancerous oral lesions than non-users

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As of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated smokeless tobacco products as potentially harmful, akin to cigarettes, requiring strict regulation

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Approximately 3.5% of adults in the United States use smokeless tobacco products

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Men are about 4 times more likely to use smokeless tobacco than women

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The majority of smokeless tobacco users are aged 25-44 years

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About 1.3 million Americans are current smokeless tobacco users

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Smokeless tobacco use among U.S. high school students dropped from 11.3% in 2011 to 3.8% in 2022

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Reports indicate that smokeless tobacco users are more likely to also smoke cigarettes, suggesting a pattern of tobacco product use

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The average age of smokeless tobacco users in the U.S. is approximately 20 to 25 years old

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The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use is higher in rural areas compared to urban areas in the U.S.

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About 80% of smokeless tobacco users in the U.S. are male

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Native American populations have a higher prevalence of smokeless tobacco use compared to other ethnic groups in the U.S.

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The average nicotine content in a pinch of chewing tobacco is equivalent to the nicotine in one cigarette

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North Carolina is the leading state in smokeless tobacco use

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In the U.S., sales of smokeless tobacco products exceed $3 billion annually

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The most popular smokeless tobacco product in the U.S. is chewing tobacco, followed by snuff and dissolvable products

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Young adults aged 18-24 are increasingly initiating smokeless tobacco use, especially in gaming and sports communities

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The flavoring agents in smokeless tobacco make it more appealing, especially to young users, potentially increasing initiation rates

Statistic 31

A significant percentage of youth who use smokeless tobacco do so alongside cigarette smoking, indicating dual usage patterns

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Key Highlights

Approximately 3.5% of adults in the United States use smokeless tobacco products
Men are about 4 times more likely to use smokeless tobacco than women
The majority of smokeless tobacco users are aged 25-44 years
Smokeless tobacco products contain nicotine, which leads to addiction
Users of smokeless tobacco are at a higher risk for developing leukoplakia, a precancerous oral condition
Approximately 13% of all oral cancers are linked to smokeless tobacco use
The use of smokeless tobacco increases the risk of pancreatic cancer by about 80%
About 1.3 million Americans are current smokeless tobacco users
In the U.S., sales of smokeless tobacco products exceed $3 billion annually
Smokeless tobacco use among U.S. high school students dropped from 11.3% in 2011 to 3.8% in 2022
Nicotine from smokeless tobacco is absorbed through the oral mucosa, leading to rapid addiction development
The most popular smokeless tobacco product in the U.S. is chewing tobacco, followed by snuff and dissolvable products
North Carolina is the leading state in smokeless tobacco use

Despite a declining trend among teens, over 1.3 million Americans still chew smokeless tobacco—a habit linked to serious health risks including cancer, addiction, and oral health issues, especially among young adults and rural populations.

Health Risks and Cancer Associations

Smokeless tobacco products contain nicotine, which leads to addiction
Users of smokeless tobacco are at a higher risk for developing leukoplakia, a precancerous oral condition
Approximately 13% of all oral cancers are linked to smokeless tobacco use
The use of smokeless tobacco increases the risk of pancreatic cancer by about 80%
Nicotine from smokeless tobacco is absorbed through the oral mucosa, leading to rapid addiction development
Smokeless tobacco contains over 30 chemicals known to cause cancer
The health risks associated with smokeless tobacco are similar to those of cigarette smoking, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases
Smokeless tobacco use diminishes oral health, leading to issues like gum recession and tooth decay
The use of smokeless tobacco during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of stillbirth and low birth weight
Approximately 1 in 5 deaths from oral cavity and pharynx cancers are attributable to smokeless tobacco use
Smokeless tobacco increases the risk of dental leukoplakia, which can potentially develop into oral cancer
Chewing tobacco and snuff are responsible for roughly 10% of all oral cancers in the U.S.
Smokeless tobacco users are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop precancerous oral lesions than non-users
As of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated smokeless tobacco products as potentially harmful, akin to cigarettes, requiring strict regulation

Health Risks and Cancer Associations Interpretation

Despite often being perceived as a "safer" alternative, smokeless tobacco's arsenal of carcinogens, addictive nicotine, and alarming links to oral and systemic cancers prove it's a deadly misconception worth chewing over.

Prevalence and Demographics of Use

Approximately 3.5% of adults in the United States use smokeless tobacco products
Men are about 4 times more likely to use smokeless tobacco than women
The majority of smokeless tobacco users are aged 25-44 years
About 1.3 million Americans are current smokeless tobacco users
Smokeless tobacco use among U.S. high school students dropped from 11.3% in 2011 to 3.8% in 2022
Reports indicate that smokeless tobacco users are more likely to also smoke cigarettes, suggesting a pattern of tobacco product use
The average age of smokeless tobacco users in the U.S. is approximately 20 to 25 years old
The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use is higher in rural areas compared to urban areas in the U.S.
About 80% of smokeless tobacco users in the U.S. are male
Native American populations have a higher prevalence of smokeless tobacco use compared to other ethnic groups in the U.S.

Prevalence and Demographics of Use Interpretation

While smokeless tobacco use remains a predominantly male, rural, and young adult phenomenon in the U.S., its declining rates among high school students hint at evolving attitudes—yet the persistence of co-use with cigarettes underscores that for some, the tobacco journey is far from over.

Product Characteristics and Composition

The average nicotine content in a pinch of chewing tobacco is equivalent to the nicotine in one cigarette

Product Characteristics and Composition Interpretation

Despite the small pinch of chewing tobacco, its nicotine content rivals that of a cigarette, reminding us that even tiny portions pack a potent punch with potentially serious health consequences.

Regional Data

North Carolina is the leading state in smokeless tobacco use

Regional Data Interpretation

With North Carolina topping the charts in smokeless tobacco use, one might say the state is really chewing over its tobacco habits more seriously than most.

Sales, Market Trends, and Regional Data

In the U.S., sales of smokeless tobacco products exceed $3 billion annually
The most popular smokeless tobacco product in the U.S. is chewing tobacco, followed by snuff and dissolvable products

Sales, Market Trends, and Regional Data Interpretation

With over $3 billion in annual sales, the U.S. community's persistent chew for cash underscores a troubling paradox: choosing tradition over health in the smokeless tobacco arena.

Youth and Specific Population Trends

Young adults aged 18-24 are increasingly initiating smokeless tobacco use, especially in gaming and sports communities
The flavoring agents in smokeless tobacco make it more appealing, especially to young users, potentially increasing initiation rates
A significant percentage of youth who use smokeless tobacco do so alongside cigarette smoking, indicating dual usage patterns

Youth and Specific Population Trends Interpretation

As gaming and sports communities embrace flavored smokeless tobacco, youth escalation into dual-use habits highlights a concerning trend where appeal and social settings amplify the silent surge of tobacco initiation among young adults aged 18-24.