Bureau of Control

StatShot Vol. 14, No. 1 /Jan 2021

Prevalence of Use among Adults Smokers by Race/Ethnicity

In New York State (NYS), menthol are used by over half of all adult smokers (52%). Black and Hispanic

adults, however, smoke menthols almost exclusively: 86% of Black and 72% of Hispanic smokers use menthol

cigarettes, according to data from the New York State Adult Tobacco Survey, 2018. These findings further support established evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in mentho l cigarette use.1,2,3

In major cities, there are up to 10 times more tobacco ads in B lack neighborhoods than in other neighborhoods.4 Evidence from documents show that tobacco comp anies specifically targeted African‐Americans 2 5 with menthol cigarette advertising. Menthol cigarettes are more add ictive than unflavored cigarettes. Adult menthol smokers are less likely than non‐menthol smokers to successfully quit despite increased quit

intentions and quit attempts.2 Studies show significantly reduced rates of quitting among African‐American and Hispanic menthol smokers compared with non‐menthol smokers. 2 Nationally, Black men have the highest lung cancer mortality rate of any demographic group.6

Truth campaign estimates that, as of 2018, only 1.71% of the US population is covered by a menthol cigarette ban.2 Current federal law prohibits the use of characterizing flavori ngs in cigarettes, except for menthol. Data from the NY Chronic Disease Public Opinion Poll, which surveys adults in NYS, demonstrate 56% of adults statewide, and 68% of

African Americans support banning the sale of menthol cigarettes in NYS (data not shown). Although targeted

marketing is a normative business practice, when used to promote consumer products that kill up to half of their users, regulatory action, denormalization of these marketing pr actices, and community mobilization are warranted.7

Prevalence of Menthol Cigarette Use among Adult Smokers by Race and Ethnicity NYS Adult Tobacco Survey, 2018

Adult Smokers who use Menthol Statewide Rate 52% Percent of Smokers who Use Menthols 86% 72% 43% 36%

Black/African American Hispanic Other White

Source: NY Adult Tobacco Survey (2018) and NY Chronic Disease Public Opinion Poll (2019). 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). and Tobacco Use. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/disparities/african-americans/index.htm 2. Truth. (2018). Menthol: Facts, stats and regulations. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/traditional-tobacco-products/menthol-facts-stats-and-regulations 3. Sisti J, Jasek J, Farley SM. (2019). The menthol difference; prevalence and correlates among NYC adult smokers. 2019 New York City Epidemiology Forum, New York, New York, February 22, 2019. 4. Truth. (2017). Tobacco is a social justice issue: Racial and ethnic minorities. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/targeted-communities/tobacco-social-justice-issue-racial-and-ethnic-minorities 5. Kabbani N. (2013). Not so Cool? Menthol's discovered actions on the nicotinic receptor and its implications for addiction. Frontiers in pharmacology, 4, 95. doi:10.3389/fphar.2013.00095 6. American Lung Association. (2016). Lung Cancer Fact Sheet. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/resource-library/lung-cancer-fact-sheet.html 7. Lee, J. G., Henriksen, L., Rose, S. W., Moreland-Russell, S., & Ribisl, K. M. (2015). A Systematic Review of Neighborhood Disparities in Point-of-Sale Tobacco Marketing. American journal of public health, 105(9), e8–e18. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2015.302777 Suggested Citation: New York State Department of Health (2021). StatShot Vol. 14, No. 1/ Jan 2021. Contact the Bureau of Chronic Disease Evaluation and Research, New York State Department of Health at (518) 473-0673 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. StatShots can be accessed online at: http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/reports/statshots/