title: Smoking intensity and intent to continue smoking among menthol and non-menthol adolescent smokers in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research suggests that menthol cigarette use is associated with nicotine dependence. However, findings on the relationship between menthol smoking status and quantity of cigarettes smoked are less clear. The objective of this paper was to examine whether menthol cigarette smoking is associated with higher smoking intensity and intention to continue smoking among adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationally representative sample of 4,736 Canadian students in grades 9-12 was drawn from the 2010-2011 Canadian Youth Smoking Survey. Associations between smoking intensity and menthol smoking were examined using linear regression. A logistic regression was used to examine whether menthol smoking increased the odds that a student reported intention to continue smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two percentage of smokers in grades 9-12 smoked menthol cigarettes in the last 30 days. Unadjusted average number of cigarettes reported by menthol smokers was 6.86 compared with 4.59 among non-menthol smokers (p < 0.001). Multivariable results showed that the average number of cigarettes smoked by menthol smokers was greater than non-menthol smokers (β = 1.92; 95 % CI = 1.16-2.68). Similar results were found using the total number of cigarettes smoked in the past week. Additionally, menthol smokers had greater odds of reporting intent to continue smoking compared with non-menthol smokers (OR = 2.95; 95 % CI = 2.24-3.90). These results were similar when separate analyses were conducted for established smokers and experimental smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study along with existing evidence suggest the need for banning mentholated tobacco products in Canada, in part because of its significant effect on adolescent smoking.
authors.affiliation: Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada, sazagba@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Sunday
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azagba
authors.forename: Leia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Minaker
authors.forename: Mesbah F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sharaf
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manske
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062789:Tobacco Products
chemical_list: D008610:Menthol