More than 18.9 million people in the United States smoke menthol cigarettes.1 The tobacco industry has used intensive marketing for menthol products since the 1950s, and it continues to target them disproportionately to racial/ethnic minorities (including Black Americans) and to LGBTQ communities.Find out:https://nativecigarettes.com/menthol
This heightened preference for menthol is linked to a higher prevalence of smoking-related diseases and lower rates of cessation among African American smokers, as well as other vulnerable populations, including young adults, women, and individuals who report poor or fair health status.2
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Menthol is also a key driver of youth initiation of tobacco, particularly cigarettes. Research shows that youth who smoke menthol cigarettes are more likely to continue smoking and be more dependent on nicotine than those who do not.2
The Food and Drug Administration is on the verge of removing menthol cigarettes from the market—a major public health victory. But in developing regulations, it must consider whether removing menthol will make it harder for current smokers to quit and increase their risk of disease and death. We need the FDA to consider this question fully and carefully, especially because a recent study found that smoking mentholated cigarettes increases disease risk and reduces cessation, and that it is particularly hard for some groups of smokers to quit with menthol cigarettes.