A menthol cigarette ban could lead smokers to quit In a study, menthol cig smokers chose nicotine replacements over regular cigarettes Nearly a third of smokers use menthols TUESDAY, Nov. 5, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Banning menthol cigarettes could help convince smokers quit the habit, a new study finds. People who prefer menthol cigarettes would rather buy nicotine gum or other nicotine replacement therapies than switch to traditional tobacco cigarettes, researchers reported recently in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence .
In addition, menthol cigarette smokers were less likely to use e-cigarettes as a substitute if menthol vaping products are also restricted, researchers found. “I think the most important conclusion from this study is that we can improve health outcomes by emphasizing policies that reduce sales of flavored products and increase accessibility of nicotine replacement therapies,” said researcher Roberta Freitas-Lemos , an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. More than 9 million adults -- about 32% of all smokers -- use menthol cigarettes, researchers said in background notes.
Menthol makes smoking easier by reducing the harshness of cigarette smoke and cooling the throat. The Biden Administration has come under fire for delaying a proposed U.S.
Food and Drug Administration ban on menthol cigarettes. In a September hearing before Congress, FDA leaders said a menthol ban is still in the works. "It's a priority f.