Summary
Introduction: This text provides an analysis of the impact of menthol cigarette flavoring and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) on smoking initiation, cessation, and transitions between tobacco products in the U.S. The study aims to understand the potential impact of a U.S. menthol ban on combustible tobacco products.
Key Points:
* The study uses a multistate transition model applied to data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (PATH) from 2013-2017.
* The analysis estimated transition rates and transition-specific hazard ratios for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and income.
* Non-Hispanic Blacks who smoked menthol cigarettes had a much lower discontinuation rate than those who smoked nonmenthol cigarettes.
* There was no significant difference in discontinuation rates for non-Hispanic Whites or Hispanics who smoked menthol versus nonmenthol cigarettes.
* Non-Hispanic Whites who smoked menthol cigarettes were more likely to become dual users than those who smoked nonmenthol cigarettes.
* Young adults initiated menthol smoking at a higher rate than older adults, while there was no significant difference in nonmenthol smoking initiation between age groups.
* There were differences by sex in the impact of menthol flavor on smoking initiation and discontinuation, but little difference by education or income.
Main Message: The study highlights the importance of accounting for sociodemographic differences in product transitions when estimating the potential impact of a menthol ban on combustible tobacco products. The results suggest that a menthol ban could result in substantial smoking cessation among NHBs who otherwise would not quit and reduce young adult smoking initiation, ultimately leading to a lower incidence of smoking overall. However, the analysis also reveals disparities in smoking cessation and initiation among different racial and ethnic groups, emphasizing the need for high-quality cessation programs and thoughtful regulation of the ENDS marketplace.
Citation
Brouwer AF, Jeon J, Cook SF, et al. The Impact of Menthol Cigarette Flavor in the U.S.: Cigarette and ENDS Transitions by Sociodemographic Group. American journal of preventive medicine. 2022;62(2):243-251. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2021.08.007
