Journal of the California Dental Association
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A review of published data, together with previously unpublished information, shows that the use of spit tobacco among professional baseball players continues to be alarmingly high. In spite of efforts to make players aware of the harmful effects, approximately 35 percent to 40 percent of professional baseball players still use spit tobacco, and about half of those have associated lesions. However, current efforts of the National Spit Tobacco Education Program, Major League Baseball, the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society and the Major League Baseball Players Association are expected to result in a significant reduction in spit tobacco use in this population in the next decade.
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During 1997 spring training, the National Spit Tobacco Education Program provided a spit (smokeless) tobacco intervention program to 16 professional baseball clubs. The program consisted of an awareness-raising presentation and an opportunity to discuss quitting spit tobacco use with an expert cessation counselor. ⋯ Findings from this pilot study indicate that this intervention, which is dependent upon involvement of dental professionals, was feasible to implement during spring training and appeared to be well-received by the athletes. Dental professionals are in an excellent position to advise and help spit tobacco users to quit and can have an important role in helping youth overcome this rapidly growing addiction.