Menthol

Sales of menthol-flavored cigarettes make up 37% of all cigarette sales in the U.S.

Menthol is one of the most popular flavors added to tobacco products. Studies reveal that 52% of new smokers began with menthol cigarettes.

This percentage is even higher among certain racial and social groups targeted by the tobacco industry’s menthol advertising. For example, 93.1% of Black smokers started with menthol-flavored tobacco products, and 85% continue to use them. Women, youth, and the Hispanic community have also been targeted through menthol product marketing.

Additionally, menthol causes stronger addiction than non-menthol products, especially among youth.

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What Is Menthol?

Naturally found in peppermint and other types of mint plants, menthol is also made in labs and is added to various foods, medications, and health items.

In the 1920s, tobacco manufacturers began adding menthol to tobacco products, and today, small amounts of menthol are in most cigarettes sold in the U.S.

Inhaling menthol when smoking or vaping produces a tingly cool feeling that lessens pain and irritation in the airway, reduces coughing, and gives the illusion that the person smoking can breathe better.

Health Effects

Marketing menthol as being “smoother” than non-menthol products may have contributed to more than 19.5 million people being current menthol cigarettes smokers.

The FDA and CDC warn against menthol tobacco use, as it is more addictive and harder to quit than non-menthol tobacco products.

Using tobacco products, including those with menthol, contributes to many health throughout the body, including fertility issues in both men and women, bone and teeth health, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer in just about every part of the body.

According to the CDC, smoking is linked to about 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths.

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Who Uses Menthol
Products?

The tobacco industry targets vulnerable populations, including financially disadvantaged individuals, minorities, the uninsured, children, the elderly, the unsheltered, and people with chronic and mental illnesses who lack the resources and opportunities that most Americans have.

Studies show that menthol tobacco products are used more by youth, women, the LGBTQ+ community, those with mental illness, and racial/ethnic minorities.

The tobacco industry markets menthol in vulnerable communities by sponsoring community and music events, advertising in local shops and stores, and using displays and images that appeal to youth.
Research reveals that menthol tobacco products are preferred by socially and economically disparate groups, including:

  • 36% of LGBTQ+
  • 54% of youth ages 12-17 years old
  • 70% of African American youth ages 12-17 years
  • 76.8% of non-Hispanic African American adults

More research is needed on menthol use among individuals with mental illnesses. However, existing studies show a link between high menthol tobacco use and severe mental hardships. Furthermore, people who smoke menthol cigarettes tend to have worse mental health compared to those who do not use menthol products.

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African American Targeting

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  • According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 93.1% of African Americans chose a menthol product the first time they tried smoking.
  • There are more tobacco retailers in minority communities, along with larger-sized advertisements.
  • The tobacco industry would financially sponsor scholarships, higher education institutions, and civic, social, and community organizations exclusive to African Americans to attract Black people who smoke. They also use culturally centered advertising, featuring relatable images of African Americans enjoying menthol tobacco products to appeal to Black communities.
  • Nicotine dependence is higher among Black people who smoke, who are also less successful with quitting.
  • Black people who smoke menthol products have a 12% lower odds of effectively quitting compared to non-menthol users.
  • Nicotine addiction increases the risk of heart disease, lung illnesses, and various cancers, which is especially dangerous for a population already facing higher health risk factors.
  • Nearly 45,000 African Americans die from smoking-related illnesses every year, with more African Americans dying from lung cancer than any other type of cancer.
  • Banning menthol flavoring in tobacco products could prevent approximately 1.6 million African American youths from becoming regular smokers.
  • African Americans suffer the highest rates of tobacco-related deaths among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. This is mainly because of aggressive marketing and discounts for menthol tobacco products in their communities, leading 93% of African American smokers to use menthol products.
  • Our state is working to advance fairness and justice in health, which involves addressing major causes of inequalities, such as the harm cause by commercial tobacco causes in communities of color, rural communities, LGBT+ communities, and lower-income communities.

Source: Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids

Menthol Regulations

In 2009, the FDA banned the sale of all flavored cigarettes except menthol through the Family Smoking and Prevention Tobacco Control Act.

Not banning ALL menthol-flavored tobacco products has led to increased use among high school youths, who, studies reveal, prefer e-cigarettes and vapes over traditional cigarettes.

Reports show that after the flavor ban was activated, menthol e-cigarettes sales increased by almost $60 million.

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Media

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References