The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71320

My-Charllins Vilsaint, BS¹, Jane Allen¹, Lyndon Haviland, PhD², James C. Hersey, PhD³, and Paul Mowery, MS⁴. (1) American Legacy Foundation, 1001 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202 454 5555, mvilsaint@americanlegacy.org, (2) Chief Operating Officer, American Legacy Foundation, 1001 G Street, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20001, (3) Health and Social Policy Division, Research Triangle Institute, 1615 M St. NW, Suite 740, Washington, DC 20036-3209, (4) Statistics, Research Triangle Institute, 2951 Flowers Road, Suite 119, Atlanta, GA 30341

Objectives: To investigate whether menthol cigarettes serve as a gateway to established smoking or barrier to cessation, especially among minority populations.

Methods: We analyzed the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) of 26,142 youth in 2000 and 35,828 youth in 2002, and the American Smoking and Health Survey (ASHES) of 3,405 adults in 2002. We compared use menthol cigarette use by race/ethnicity between less experienced vs. more experienced smokers. Logistic regression was used to compare the rate of successful quit attempts among youth and adults who smoked menthol vs. non-menthol cigarettes (controlling for race-ethnicity, gender, age, length of time and level of smoking.)

Results: Menthol cigarette use is particularly high among minority youth and adults and among youth who have smoked for one year or less. Among newer smokers, the rates of menthol use were 80% among Asians, 75% among African Americans, 60% among Hispanic, vs. 46% among whites. Menthol smokers scored higher on a scale of nicotine addiction. Despite more frequently intending to quit, using nicotine gum and seeking help with cessation, menthol smokers were less successful in quitting. Menthol smokers were significantly less likely than nonmenthol smokers to report that they were able to stop smoking (55.6% vs. 61.1%) or to have quit smoking for longer than a month.

Implications: These results are consistent with thinking that because menthol cigarettes are easier to inhale deeply, they may are more addictive and serve as a gateway cigarette for minority youth and a barrier to cessation.

Learning Objectives:

• Better understand the relationship between menthol cigarette use and established smoking among minority youth
• Better understand the relationship between menthol cigarette use and cessation among minority youth

Keywords: Tobacco, Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: American Legacy Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of Legacy