Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to evaluate possible industry motives for its use of menthol in tobacco products.
Abstract: The tobacco industry once promoted the mentholated cigarette as a health benefit. Yet, African American smokers, who disproportionately smoke menthol cigarettes, have an increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular mortality. In 1925 the first mentholated cigarette hit the market. However, it was in the mid-1950’s, when RJ Reynolds introduced Salem to compete with Brown & Williamson’s Kool that mentholated cigarettes increased in popularity. Lorillard’s Newport brand quickly followed. By the 1960’s, menthol cigarettes had doubled their market share and tobacco companies were actively seeking control of this market, as several new mentholated variations of existing brands were introduced. By the early 1990’s, Newport had become the brand of choice for 75% of African American teenage smokers. However, Newport is quickly rising in popularity with white and Hispanic youth. The implication for public health is that mentholated cigarettes are not only an African American problem. Internal tobacco documents provide a window into what the industry knows about menthol, its interaction with nicotine, and its effects on smokers. Furthermore, industry documents may give clues as to why certain smokers prefer mentholated cigarettes, providing additional intervention tools to researchers and advocates in tobacco control. California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (Grant #9RT-0095); National Cancer Institute (Grant #CA87472-01).
Learning Objective: At the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to evaluate possible industry motives for its use of menthol in tobacco products.
Back to Social Justice and the Tobacco Industry
Back to Increasing Diversity/Eliminating Disparities
Back to The 2002 National Conference on Tobacco or Health