Increased Menthol Cigarette Use Seen Among Teens

A new study shows that more young people in the United States are using menthol cigarettes. Many believe this may be due to marketing campaigns for the products targeted at a younger audience.

"Our findings indicate that youth are heavy consumers of mentholated cigarettes, and that overall menthol cigarette smoking has either remained constant or increased in all three age groups we studied, while non-menthol smoking has decreased," lead researcher Gary Giovino, PhD, professor and chair of the University at Buffalo Department of Community Health and Health Behaviors said, via a press release.

Researchers looked at data from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, involving 390,000 people 12 years and up. Among this information, it included 84,000 smokers. The results regarding their findings show the following, via the a press release:

• "Among cigarette smokers, menthol cigarette use was more common among 12-17 year olds (56.7 percent) and 18-25 year olds (45 percent) than among older persons (range 30.5 percent to 32.9 percent)
• Menthol use was associated with being younger, female, and of non-white race or ethnicity.
• Among all adolescents, the percent who smoked non-menthol cigarettes decreased from 2004-10, while menthol smoking rates remained constant.
• Among all young adults, the percent who smoked non-menthol cigarettes also declined, while menthol smoking rates increased.
• The use of Camel menthol and Marlboro menthol increased among adolescent and young adult smokers, particularly non-Hispanic whites, during the study period.
• "The study results should inform the FDA regarding the potential public health impact of a menthol ban," Giovino said, via the release."

"The FDA is considering banning menthol cigarettes, or other regulatory options," he said, via the release. "This research provides an important view of the trends and patterns of menthol use in the nation as a whole. The FDA will consider these findings and findings from multiple other studies as it goes forward.

The study authors are particularly concerned with findings that show heavy consumption of mentholated cigarettes and the use of menthols that are specifically targeted to a young female audience.

 "This finding indicates that mentholated cigarettes are a 'starter product' for kids in part because menthol makes it easier to inhale for beginners," said Giovino, via the release. "Simply stated, menthol sweetens the poison, making it easier to smoke. Young people often think menthol cigarettes are safer, in part because they feel less harsh.

"When I was growing up, one of my older friends said he didn't think that menthol cigarette smoking was that dangerous because he was told that they were good for you if you got a cold. It turns out that Kool was advertising that way for a long time but was stopped from doing so by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) around 1955."

Studies show that the adverse health effects from cigarette smoking accounts for over 440,000 deaths or one of every five deaths each year in the United States alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, more deaths are caused by smoking than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, suicides, car accidents and murders combined.

As various reports show that many who smoke started at a young age, it's important to give up the nasty habit and get help as soon as you can.

More information regarding the study can be found via the international journal Tobacco Control.