Small-group discussions on menthol cigarettes: listening to adult African American smokers in Atlanta, Georgia

Abstract

Some topics suggested by the participants warrant further investigation. More research is needed to assess the pervasiveness of these beliefs and their potential utility for smoking cessation interventions.

Effects of Nicotine on Olfactogustatory Incentives: Preference, Palatability, and Operant Choice Tests

“…Focus group interviews suggest that "taste" is the most common reason for smoking menthol cigarettes (Ahijevych & Garrett, 2010). However, these studies also suggest that the appeal of menthol cigarettes is also based on a prior familiarity of menthol as a taste with incentive salience-"tasting like a peppermint patty" (Richter et al, 2008). The present studies suggest that NIC administration may increase the salience of such appetitive tastes, even though it does not appear to alter their palatability.…”

“…The strong brand preferences exhibited by menthol smokers suggest that overlap between NIC administration and exposure to gustatory incentives may alter the palatability of these stimuli (Hymowitz et al, 1995;Richter, Beistle, Pederson, & O'Hegarty, 2008). Although the primary reinforcing effects Figure 4.…”

Differences in Quit Attempts and Cigarette Smoking Abstinence Between Whites and African Americans in the United States: Literature Review and Results From the International Tobacco Control US Survey

“…69 It is also possible that efforts to quit are undermined by erroneous beliefs that menthol cigarettes are less dangerous than nonmentholated brands. [70][71][72] At the environmental level, African American smokers are less likely than white smokers to have total bans on smoking in their homes. 17 Low-SES urban African American women report finding quitting difficult because cigarettes help them cope with their highly stressful environments.…”

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

“…A number of studies have revealed that smokers of menthol cigarettes report smoking these cigarettes because of the characteristic cool minty taste compared with nonmenthol cigarettes (Hymowitz, Mouton, & Edkholdt, 1995;Richter, Beistele, Pederson, & O'Hegarty, 2008). These findings suggest that it is particularly important to understand the influence of menthol as a cigarette additive from the perspective of the menthol cigarette smoker.…”

“…While analyses were not reported by menthol/nonmenthol cigarettes, nearly all Blacks smoked mentholated cigarettes, suggesting that menthol cigarettes may have produced positive sensory effects that contributed to the appeal of the early smoking experience in Blacks (for empirical studies summary, see Supplementary Table 1). Richter et al (2008) assessed sensory perceptions of menthol cigarettes among Black focus group participants (n = 54), of whom 87% smoked menthol cigarettes. A theme emerged that taste was the main reason for smoking a particular brand and was the overwhelming reason for choosing menthol rather than nonmenthol cigarettes.…”