Menthol Cigarette Use among Youth and Young Adults--United States, 2003-2008

Previous research suggests that menthol cigarettes may be associated with smoking initation by youth and may play a role in nicotine dependence and reinforcement of smoking behaviors among both youth (12-17 years) and young adults (18-25 years). This study seeks to examine trends and characteristics of menthol cigarette use among youth and young adults. Data on self-reported smoking status, smoking history (e.g. age of initiation, number of cigarettes smoked per day), cigarette brand preference, and select demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender, race/ethnicity) were obtained from the 2003-2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Data were analyzed to provide nationally representative estimates and trends of menthol cigarette use among youth and young adults. Preliminary data analyses show that among youth, the prevalence of menthol cigarette use was highest among non-Hispanic Blacks, followed by Asians Americans, Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites, and American Indians. A similar pattern of menthol use was observed among young adults. Additionally, although overall cigarette use among youth and young adults has not significantly declined in the past decade, preliminary data indicate that their use of menthol cigarettes has increased. We also examined sociodemographic characteristics related to smoking history and brand preference. In summary, because menthol cigarette use has increased over the last six years, future research should continue to monitor the public health impact of menthol cigarettes. Culturally appropriate tobacco control strategies to reduce initiation and increase cessation are needed for both youth and young adults who smoke menthol cigarettes.