Do sports clubs promote snuff use?
Adolescent snuff use was rare in Finland but increased in the 1980s. Snuffing was most frequent in urban regions and among the physically active. Physical activity has, however, been found to promote a healthy lifestyle. We analysed the relationship between snuff use and physical activity, especially that organized by sports clubs, during a 10 year period. Boys between 16 and 18 years old were studied in a biannual Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey in 1981 1983 (N = 3667, response rate 76%), 1987 (N = 3175, 73%) and 1991 (N = 2936, 65%) by mailed questionnaires. Snuff use was related only to physical activity organized by sports clubs and only in the most urbanized area. Smoking was less frequent among the participants of sports club activities than the non-participants. In sports clubs, snuff users drank and smoked more frequently than non-users. Of tobacco users, snuff use was five times more common among participants of sports club activities than non-participants. Snuff use ha
