title: Patterns of menthol cigarette use among current smokers, overall and within demographic strata, based on data from four U.S. government surveys.
abstract: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, National Health Interview Survey and Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey provide estimates of the proportions of U.S. smokers who currently use menthol cigarettes, overall and within demographic strata. Among adult past-month, regular and daily smokers, menthol cigarette use ranges from 26% to 30%, with statistically higher proportions of female versus male smokers (8-11 percentage points higher) currently using menthol cigarettes. Compared to adult smokers overall, statistically higher proportions of non-Hispanic Black smokers (72-79%) and statistically lower proportions of non-Hispanic White smokers (19-22%) currently use menthol cigarettes, with no differences among smokers of other race/ethnicity groups (18-20% to 28-30%, depending on the survey). Higher proportions of younger adult past-month, regular and daily smokers (aged 18-25years) currently use menthol cigarettes compared to older adult smokers (aged 26-29years and/or ⩾30years); however, differences are small in magnitude, with the vast majority of adult smokers (70-75%) who currently use menthol cigarettes being aged ⩾30years. Comparisons between youth and adult smokers are provided, although data for youth smokers are less available and provide less consistent patterns of menthol cigarette use.
authors.affiliation: RAI Services Company, 401 North Main Street, P.O. Box 464, Winston-Salem, NC 27102, United States. Electronic address: curting@rjrt.com.
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Curtin
authors.affiliation: ENVIRON International Corporation, 28 Amity Street, Suite 2A, Amherst, MA 01002, United States. Electronic address: ssulsky@environcorp.com.
authors.forename: Sandra I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Sulsky
authors.affiliation: ENVIRON International Corporation, 1900 North 18th Street, Suite 804, Monroe, LA 71201, United States. Electronic address: cvanlandingham@environcorp.com.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Landingham
authors.affiliation: RAI Services Company, 401 North Main Street, P.O. Box 464, Winston-Salem, NC 27102, United States. Electronic address: maranok@rjrt.com.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Marano
authors.affiliation: RAI Services Company, 401 North Main Street, P.O. Box 464, Winston-Salem, NC 27102, United States. Electronic address: gravesm1@rjrt.com.
authors.forename: Monica J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.affiliation: RAI Services Company, 401 North Main Street, P.O. Box 464, Winston-Salem, NC 27102, United States. Electronic address: ogdenm@rjrt.com.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.affiliation: RAI Services Company, 401 North Main Street, P.O. Box 464, Winston-Salem, NC 27102, United States. Electronic address: swaugej@rjrt.com.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Swauger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003625:Data Collection; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008610:Menthol
keywords: Cigarette; Current age category; Demographics; Gender; Menthol; Preference; Race/ethnicity