Menthol cigarettes and smoking cessation among racial/ethnic groups in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between smoking mentholated cigarettes and smoking cessation, separately for different racial/ethnic groups.


METHODS
Secondary data analysis of the 2003 and 2006-07 Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey.


METHODS
United States.


METHODS
African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, non-Hispanic white adults.


METHODS
Examined relations between the use of mentholated cigarettes and measures of smoking cessation.


RESULTS
Among African Americans (ORadj = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.35-1.95) and Hispanics/Latinos (ORadj = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.47), those who currently smoked mentholated cigarettes were more likely be seriously considering quitting in the next six months than were non-menthol smokers, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. African Americans (ORadj = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.60-2.19) and Hispanics/Latinos (ORadj = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.11-1.62) who smoked mentholated cigarettes were also significantly more likely to have a positive estimation of successfully quitting in the next six months compared to non-menthol smokers. These associations were not found among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, Native Americans/Alaska Natives and Non-Hispanic Whites. Among former smokers, across racial/ethnic groups, those who smoked mentholated cigarettes (vs. non-menthols) were significantly less likely to have successfully quit for at least six months: African Americans (ORadj = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.17-0.31), Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (ORadj = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.45), Hispanics/Latinos (ORadj = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.34-0.69) and Non-Hispanic Whites (ORadj = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.25-0.33).


CONCLUSIONS
Across race/ethnic groups, those who used to regularly smoke mentholated cigarettes were less likely to have experienced long-term quitting success. Cessation programs should consider the type of cigarette typically smoked by participants, particularly menthols.
School of Community and Global Health, Claremont Graduate University, San Dimas, CA 91773, USA. dennis.trinidad@cgu.edu
Dennis R
DR
Trinidad
Eliseo J
EJ
Pérez-Stable
Karen
K
Messer
Martha M
MM
White
John P
JP
Pierce
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D008610:Menthol