Are menthol cigarettes a starter product for youth?

Hersey, James; Ng, Shu Wen; Nonnemaker, James; Mowery, Paul; Thomas, Kristin; Vilsaint, My C.; Allen, Jane; Haviland, M. Lyndon

doi:10.1080/14622200600670389

Cited by 136 publications

(133 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…These findings are consistent with findings by Hersey et al (2006) of current middle school and high school smokers in the 2000 and 2002 National Youth Tobacco Surveys. Menthol cigarette smokers (n = 1,552; 48.5%) in the sample were younger newer smokers than those smoking nonmenthol cigarettes (n = 1,650; 51.5%).…”

Section: Menthol Cigarettes and Measures Of Nicotine Addictionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The Role of Menthol in Cigarettes as a Reinforcer of Smoking Behavior

Ahijevych

Garrett²

2010

Nicotine &Amp; Tobacco Research

110

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Section: Menthol Cigarettes and Measures Of Nicotine Addictionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The Role of Menthol in Cigarettes as a Reinforcer of Smoking Behavior

Ahijevych

Garrett²

2010

Nicotine &Amp; Tobacco Research

110

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“…Furthermore, menthol cigarettes are increasingly shown to promote nicotine dependence and adversely impact smoking cessation, especially among sub-populations of smokers, e.g., African-Americans or women [3,29,43,50,51]. Recent nationally representative studies in the USA and Canada [49, [51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] have confirmed earlier reports [61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] that menthol cigarette use is associated with increased nicotine addiction and reduced cessation success. Other studies, however, failed to demonstrate a significant difference in cessation-related outcomes between menthol and nonmenthol cigarette smokers [26, [70][71][72][73][74].…”

mentioning

confidence: 63%

The lingering question of menthol in cigarettes

Besaratinia

Tommasi

2014

Cancer Causes Control

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Tobacco use is the single most important preventable cause of cancer-related deaths in the USA and many parts of the world. There is growing evidence that menthol cigarettes are starter tobacco products for children, adolescents, and young adults. Accumulating research also suggests that smoking menthol cigarettes reinforces nicotine dependence, impedes cessation, and promotes relapse. However, menthol cigarettes are exempt from the US Food and Drug Administration ban on flavored cigarettes due, in part, to the lack of empirical evidence describing the health consequences of smoking menthol cigarettes relative to regular cigarettes. Determining the biological effects of menthol cigarette smoke relative to regular cigarette smoke can clarify the health risks associated with the use of respective products and assist regulatory agencies in making scientifically based decisions on the development and evaluation of regulations on tobacco products to protect public health and to reduce tobacco use by minors. We highlight the inherent shortcomings of the conventional epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory research on menthol cigarettes that have contributed to the ongoing debate on the public health impact of menthol in cigarettes. In addition, we provide perspectives on how future investigations exploiting state-of-the-art biomarkers of exposure and disease states can help answer the lingering question of menthol in cigarettes.With the enactment of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA) in 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was granted authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products to protect public health and to reduce tobacco use by minors [1]. In 2011, the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) reported to the FDA that ''menthol cigarettes damage public health,'' and recommended that ''removal of menthol cigarettes would benefit public health in the USA'' [2]. The TPSAC report has been substantiated by ample research, suggesting that smoking menthol cigarettes is a ''gateway'' to using other tobacco products, especially during childhood and early adulthood, increases nicotine addiction, deters quitting, and promotes relapse [3,4]. Because smoking is our nation's leading cause of preventable death [5,6], any ingredient that may encourage people to take up this deadly habit or reinforce this lethal addiction should be considered a significant public health concern. However, the FDA has not yet taken regulatory steps, including imposing a ban on menthol cigarettes despite banning all the other flavored cigarettes from the US market [1]. This lack of action may, in part, be due to the absence of empirical evidence describing the health consequences of smoking menthol cigarettes relative to regular cigarettes [7,8]. Finding scientific underpinnings for the adverse health effects of smoking menthol cigarettes relative to regular cigarettes is of significance because it can help advance the FDA's mission of developing an...

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“…Youth who initiate smoking with a menthol-flavored tobacco product are more likely to progress to dependence and to report higher levels of dependence. 73,74 RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM TOBACCO SMOKE AND NICOTINE EXPOSURE…”

Section: Tobaccomentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Policy to Protect Children From Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke

Farber¹,

Nelson²,

Groner³

et al. 2015

Pediatrics

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Tobacco use and tobacco smoke exposure are among the most important health threats to children, adolescents, and adults. There is no safe level of tobacco smoke exposure. The developing brains of children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the development of tobacco and nicotine dependence. Tobacco is unique among consumer products in that it causes disease and death when used exactly as intended. Tobacco continues to be heavily promoted to children and young adults. Flavored and alternative tobacco products, including little cigars, chewing tobacco, and electronic nicotine delivery systems are gaining popularity among youth. This statement describes important evidence-based public policy actions that, when implemented, will reduce tobacco product use and tobacco smoke exposure among youth and, by doing so, improve the health of children and young adults.

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Are menthol cigarettes a starter product for youth?

Cited by 136 publications

References 28 publications

The Role of Menthol in Cigarettes as a Reinforcer of Smoking Behavior

The Role of Menthol in Cigarettes as a Reinforcer of Smoking Behavior

The lingering question of menthol in cigarettes

Public Policy to Protect Children From Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke

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