Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 551–557, 1999 Copyright © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 0306-4603/99/$–see front matter PII S0306-4603(98)00092-6 551 Pergamon BRIEF REPORT CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO USERS SEEKING TREATMENT DOROTHY K. HATSUKAMI, JONI JENSEN, RAYMOND BOYLE, MICHAEL GRILLO, and ROBIN BLISS University of Minnesota Abstract — Previous studies have described smokeless tobacco (ST) treatment seekers with minimal detail. In the present study, ST users (N = 402), who enrolled in a ST cessation treatment study, were asked to complete an extensive questionnaire that inquired about their ST use patterns, use of other tobacco products, extent of dependence, previous attempts to quit, situations associated with use and support for quitting. The results showed that this pop- ulation experiences a high level of nicotine exposure and physical dependence on ST. ST use frequently is associated with negative affect situations and times of hunger. A high frequency of users have smoked cigarettes as well as cigars. A supportive social environment for ST ces- sation exists for these individuals. These results have implications for ST treatment content. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd The characteristics of adult smokeless tobacco (ST) users who seek treatment have been described in previous studies, although with relatively little detail. The descrip- tion of the sample population is typically limited to information on age and race with minimal information on ST use history such as amount and duration of ST use, base- line cotinine levels, number of quit attempts and percent who are smoking cigarettes. Most of the studies show that ST users who seek treatment in a variety of settings (e.g., treatment clinic, dental office, HMO dental setting, professional baseball organiza- tion, nationwide contest for quitting) tend to be predominantly Caucasian (Hat- sukami, Jensen, Allen, Grillo, & Bliss, 1996; Stevens, Severson, Lichtenstein, Little, & Leben, 1995), with a mean age ranging from 20 to early 30s (DiLorenzo, Kern, & Pieper, 1991; Glover, 1986; Hatsukami et al., 1996; Little, Stevens, Severson, & Licht- enstein, 1992; Sinusas & Coroso, 1993; Stevens et al., 1995; Zavela, Harrison, Smith, Smith, & Manske, 1995). The average number of dips per day ranges from 6 to 9 (DiLorenzo et al., 1991; Zavela et al., 1995) or 2.6–3.8 tins or pouches per week (Hat- sukami et al., 1996; Sinusas & Coroso, 1993; Tillegren, Haglund, Ainetdin, & Holm, 1995; Zavela et al., 1995); the mean duration of use is between 5 and 10 years (DiLorenzo et al., 1991; Hatsukami et al., 1996; Sinusas & Coroso, 1993; Zavela et al., 1995); and several quit attempts have been made in the past (DiLorenzo et al., 1991; Hatsukami et al., 1996; Tillegren et al., 1995). In one of the studies, the average coti- nine level at baseline was 441.1 ng/ml (Hatsukami et al., 1996). The present study We thank Kathy Longley for the preparation of this article. This research was funded by NIDA R01 05013. Requests for reprints should be sent to Dorothy K. Hatsukami, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Box 392 UMHC, Minneapolis, MN 55455; E-mail: hatsu001@ maroon.tc.umn.edu