218727 Menthol Cigarette Use among Youth and Young Adults--United States, 2003-2008

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Valerie J. Rock, MPH , Office of Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Stacy Thorne, PhD, MPH , Epidemiology Branch, CDC/Office on Smoking and Health, Atlanta, GA
Shane Davis, PhD , Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Kat Asman, MPH , Statistics and Epidemiology Unit; Chronic & Infectious Disease Research Program, RTI International, Atlanta, GA
Ralph S. Caraballo, PhD , Office on Smoking and Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
Describe nationally representative estimates and trends of menthol cigarette use among youth and young adults.

Keywords: Tobacco, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I have worked in the area of tobacco control and prevention for over 10 years and I have been a researcher in the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 5.5 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.