A survey of 208 female and 191 male students attending a public high school in southwestern New Mexico assessed the extent of student use of smokeless tobacco products. The sample included 179 Mexican-American and 26 Anglo-American females, as well as 152 Mexican-American and 26 Anglo-American males. The average age of both female and male subsamples was 15 years. None of the Anglo-American female respondents was a regular user of smokeless tobacco. One Mexican-American female identified herself as a user of chewing tobacco. Eight percent of male students used chewing tobacco, and five percent of males dipped snuff. Seven percent of Mexican-American males and 34 percent of Anglo-American males used smokeless tobacco. The frequency of smokeless tobacco use among Anglo-American males was significantly higher than among Mexican-American males. Both groups had begun using smokeless tobacco at an average age of 9-11. The results are compared to those of other southwestern studies of smokeless tobacco use. (Author/KS)