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A significant proportion of U.S. adults are aware of and have experimented with menthol-mimicking cigarettes, according to a recent study published on January 14 in JAMA Network Open. The research, led by Dr. Kelvin Choi from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, highlights the prevalence of synthetic cooling agent menthol-mimicking cigarettes and their potential to undermine public health efforts aimed at smoking cessation.
The study, which surveyed 3,200 U.S. adults aged 21 and older, found that 29.1% of participants were aware of these menthol-mimicking cigarettes. Among those aware, 36.9% had tried them at some point, while 24.7% reported current use. Additionally, 37.5% of respondents were not actively using but expressed susceptibility to trying the product in the future.
The findings revealed distinct patterns based on demographic factors. Awareness and usage were notably higher among Black or African American adults compared to their White counterparts, as well as among men, adults aged 60 years and younger, and current smokers of both menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes. The study also showed that those living in states with menthol cigarette bans were more likely to be aware of these alternatives.
The authors of the study warn that menthol-mimicking products could act as substitutes for menthol cigarettes, potentially undermining the effectiveness of menthol cigarette bans intended to promote smoking cessation. They suggest that these alternatives may diminish the public health benefits of such bans, complicating efforts to reduce smoking rates across the country.
For more details, see the full study published in JAMA Network Open (DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54608).
