MARQUETTE COUNTY -- According to the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, 12 percent of youths in Marquette County and Alger County have used tobacco in the last 30 days.
Following a study of local retailers, the Marquette County Health Department is worried new products on the market may increase that rate. New flavored and smokeless tobacco products were found at almost all of the 20 stores examined by the health department.
The most popular new product, called Snus, is similar to chewing tobacco. It comes in self-serve packets that users can swallow.
The health department says the various flavors and bright packaging is meant to attract children to the product.
"They're trying to get youth hooked on their brand, so that their brand will follow them through their lifetime," said MCHD Health Educator Sarah Derwin.
The department warns parents to educate their children about these products. They say that they do contain nicotine and are dangerous.
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