Today's teens have developed an unhealthy habit that could kill them. Teen-agers don't seem to be getting the message that tobacco is dangerous. A recent survey done by the Texas Department of Health found that about half of all high-school seniors in the state use tobacco.
Cigarettes are the most popular form of tobacco, but cigars and pipes are gaining.
About 10 percent use snuff or chewing tobacco. Although this survey only included Texas, public health officials believe the numbers are similar in other states. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say this is an alarming trend. Cancer risk rises with the length of tobacco use, and starting this young makes the development of cancer even more likely. Teens who use tobacco are setting themselves up for another kind of problem.