LOS ANGELES – After declining for years, the rate of smokeless tobacco use among U.S. youth has stayed the same from 2011 to 2012, the Los Angeles Times reports.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Youth Tobacco Survey, in 2011, 5.2% of middle school and high school students used chewing tobacco, snuff or dipping tobacco at least once in the last 30 days. That’s close to the 5.3% of youth who used smokeless tobacco products in 2000.

Smokeless tobacco products are not popular with kids between the ages of 9 and 11, the youngest children surveyed, with use dropping on average 4.6% per year. Among 15 to 17 year olds, use rose close to 1% annually on average. No changes registered among students age 18 and older.

The researchers think that new smokeless tobacco products, such as moist snuff, provided enough impetus for the tobacco companies to keep smokeless tobacco customers. Also, the tobacco industry is allowed to sell flavored products and give out free samples. The researchers also speculated that lower smokeless tobacco taxes could spur interest as well.

In addition, numerous states now limit mail order and online sales of smokeless tobacco, with authorities enforcing age-verification regulations. Researchers suggest that this also contributed to fewer purchases among youth. New York City and Texas are both contemplating raising the smoking age from 18 to 21.