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Tobacco and the institutionalized mentally retarded: Usage choices and ethical considerations
Author(s) -
Burtner A. Paul,
Wakham M. Dean,
McNeal Donald R.,
Garvey Timothy P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1995.tb00477.x
Subject(s) - snuff , medicine , chewing tobacco , tobacco use , mentally retarded , environmental health , population , smokeless tobacco , tobacco product , psychiatry , psychology , developmental psychology , pathology , cancer
Patterns of tobacco use were observed among 749 people diagnosed with mental retardation residing in a state‐operated facility. Specifically, Individual preference for tobacco products and frequency of use were documented. Subjects were observed using several types of tobacco products: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, and cigarette butts. Approximately 7% (n = 52) used at least one form of tobacco; ten individuals used more than one tobacco product. Interestingly, 20.5% of the Individuals diagnosed with mild or moderate mental retardation (n = 122) consumed tobacco products, a pattern of behavior that closely approximates that of the general population (20–24%). Ethical considerations pertaining to the availability of tobacco products to this special population are presented.