Oral

Approximately one-fourth of all cigarettes sold in the US are mentholated and menthol cigarettes are also commonly used by new, young smokers of all racial/ethnic groups. Despite the widespread use of mentholated cigarettes and the disproportionate burden of tobacco-related morbidity experienced by some populations who predominantly smoke mentholated cigarettes, there are significant gaps in the scientific knowledge about the role of mentholated cigarettes in smoking initiation, nicotine dependence, smoking cessation including relapse, and morbidity. This symposium will begin to address several unanswered research questions, using national survey data, about the use of mentholated cigarettes, its role in tobacco cessation behavior, as well as smokefree policies for and health risk profiles of mentholated cigarette users. These quantitative secondary data analyses of data from nationally-representative surveys, such as the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) and National Health Interview Survey Cancer Control Supplement (NHIS-CCS), begin to fill scientific gaps related to menthol. In particular, this symposium will provide information on national patterns and correlates of menthol use, answer questions regarding menthol and smoking cessation, demonstrate differences in smoke free policies and cessation resources for menthol cigarette smokers and show differences in health risk profiles for menthol and non-menthol smokers.

Session Objectives: Describe the role of menthol cigarettes in smoking pattern, cessation behaviors and smoking policies among populations that experience tobacco-related inequalities

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)