How Certain Types of Cigarettes can Lead to Increased Smoking
Menthol Cigarettes’ ‘cooling’ sensation can hide the unpleasantness of tobacco and increase the propensity for smoking addiction.
As the Biden administration moves to prohibit the manufacture and sale of menthol cigarettes in the United States, a new study suggests that the type of cigarette may increase teen smoking frequency and nicotine dependence.
A study published Monday in JAMA Network Open compared the use of menthol-flavored cigarettes to nonmenthol cigarettes among 1,096 cigarette smokers aged 12-17 between 2013 and 2019.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego discovered that teen menthol cigarette use was associated with nearly three extra days of smoking over a 30-day period, a 38% increased risk of becoming a frequent smoker, and an 8% increased nicotine dependency.
Teen smokers who switched from menthol to unflavored cigarettes, in contrast, smoked nearly four fewer days in a 30-day period, had a 47 percent lower risk of becoming a frequent smoker and had a 3 percent lower nicotine dependency.
What the Data Says
“The ‘cooling’ sensation of menthol masks the harshness of tobacco which can make cigarettes more palatable to youth. Additionally, this cooling sensation can allow smoke to be inhaled deeper and held for longer, which can result in a greater absorption of nicotine per puff,” Eric Leas, assistant professor at UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and the study’s lead author, said in a statement.
“This may accelerate physical dependence to nicotine leading youth to smoke more often,” Leas said.
The FDA proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in April, and the agency is accepting public comments on the matter until July 5 before making a final decision on the regulations.
People in favor of the ban argue that it will save lives by lowering smoking rates across the board. They cite the fact that menthol cigarettes account for more than one-third of the cigarette market in the United States. Some researchers also argue that the ban will improve health equity in Black communities, where tobacco companies have heavily marketed menthol cigarettes.
Menthol cigarettes are used by 85 percent of African Americans who smoke, compared to 29 percent of white smokers.
For more information read the article from the Hill.
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