Lighting Up Smokeless

Sacramento, CA — More Californians have gone smokeless according to a new state report out this week. The AP says a Department of Public Health report found that cigarette sales have plunged in recent years. However, it also discovered another discouraging trend for anti-smoking groups. The state report showed sales of smokeless tobacco products have surged in the past decade in California. The AP says state statistics show among high school students, smokeless tobacco use has increased from 3.1 percent of students in 2004 to 3.9 percent in 2010. Anti-smoking groups say while smokeless tobacco cigarettes reduce secondhand smoke concerns, the smoker’s health is still at risk.