Chewing tobacco: A Montana addiction problem

The use of spit - so-called "smokeless" - tobacco products by high school age youth in Montana and in the Havre community has steadily declined in recent years. This is certainly welcome news. However, according to studies by the National Cancer Institute and state and local agencies, spit tobacco use in Montana remains at a significantly higher rate than the national averages.

The percentage of high school kids across the county who have reported using spit tobacco is about 15 percent. In Montana, the number is about 25 percent.

The reasons for the higher numbers in Montana can perhaps be exp...