US: Rutgers Researchers Call For Nationwide Ban on Menthols

Source from:  Vapingpost 01/18/2021

Rutgers researchers Cristine Delnevo, director of the Center for Tobacco Studies and Prof. Ollie Ganz, a public health researcher and instructor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, have recently co-authored a paper saying that a ban on menthol cigarettes should be considered a social justice issue.

It is a known fact that the vast majority of Black smokers smoke menthol cigarettes. “A menthol ban is essential for the protection of youth, and African American youth in particular,” said Ganz, emphasising that the action would be particularly beneficial to vulnerable populations.

“A menthol cigarette is inherently not more or less dangerous than a non-menthol cigarette,” continued Delnevo. “But if the menthol makes (it) easier to start and hard to quit — then this brings increased health risks — as the longer you smoke, the greater the health risks.”

A recent study conducted by Delnevo found that while cigarette consumption dropped by 46% between 2000 and 2018, 85% of this decline was attributed to non-menthol cigarettes. “There is extensive research showing that the tobacco industry has been targeting the African American community with advertising for menthol cigarettes for decades,” she said.

“Menthol cigarettes are also disproportionately promoted in lower-income communities. So I think that marketing is a huge part of this, but there is still a lot that we don’t know, particularly for certain vulnerable populations, such as sexual minorities and those with mental health problems.”