Use of Mentholated Cigarettes and Likelihood of Smoking Cessation in the United States: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract Introduction Previous qualitative reviews have summarized evidence of an association between menthol cigarette use and likelihood of smoking cessation. The objective of this meta-analysis was to provide a quantitative summary of effect sizes, their variability, and factors related to the variability in effect size for the association between menthol use and likelihood of smoking cessation. Methods We systematically searched Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase for prospective and cross-sectional studies of the association between menthol use and smoking cessation. We analyzed data with random effects meta-analyses and meta-regression. Results Our review identified 22 reports from 19 studies of the association between menthol use and cessation. All identified study samples included only US smokers, with one exception that included both Canadian and US smokers. Our overall model did not demonstrate a significant association between menthol use and cessation; however, menthol users were significantly less likely to quit among blacks/African American smokers (odds ratio = 0.88). Conclusions Among blacks/African Americans predominantly in the US menthol users have approximately 12% lower odds of smoking cessation compared to non-menthol users. This difference is likely the result of the tobacco industry’s ongoing marketing influence on the black/African American Community, suggesting that a menthol ban may have a unique public health benefit for black/African American smokers by encouraging quitting behavior. Implications This study adds a quantitative summary of the association between menthol cigarette use and smoking cessation in the United States. Findings of an association with lower likelihood of cessation among black/African American smokers, likely resulting from the tobacco industry’s marketing influence, support the ban of menthol flavoring as part of a comprehensive tobacco control effort to increase cessation among black/African American smokers.

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Menthol Cigarettes, Tobacco Dependence, and Smoking Persistence: The Need to Examine Enhanced Cognitive Functioning as a Neuropsychological Mechanism

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/nty264 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 466-472 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nancy C Jao ◽

Marcia M Tan ◽

Phoenix A Matthews ◽

Melissa A Simon ◽

Robert Schnoll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United States ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Basic Science ◽

Tobacco Dependence ◽

The United States ◽

Science Literature ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Menthol Cigarette ◽

Menthol Cigarettes

Abstract Introduction Despite the overall decline in the prevalence of cigarette use in the United States, menthol cigarette use among smokers is rising, and evidence shows that it may lead to more detrimental effects on public health than regular cigarette use. One of the mechanisms by which nicotine sustains tobacco use and dependence is due to its cognitive enhancing properties, and basic science literature suggests that menthol may also enhance nicotine’s acute effect on cognition. Aims and Methods The purpose of this review is to suggest that the cognitive enhancing effects of menthol may be a potentially important neuropsychological mechanism that has yet to be examined. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of basic science studies examining neurobiological and cognitive effects of menthol and menthol cigarette smoking. We also review studies examining menthol essential oils among humans that indicate menthol alone has acute cognitive enhancing properties. Finally, we present factors influencing the rising prevalence of menthol cigarette use among smokers and the importance of this gap in the literature to improve public health and smoking cessation treatment. Conclusions Despite the compelling evidence for menthol’s acute cognitive enhancing and reinforcing effects, this mechanism for sustaining tobacco dependence and cigarette use has yet to be examined and validated among humans. On the basis of the basic science evidence for menthol’s neurobiological effects on nicotinic receptors and neurotransmitters, perhaps clarifying menthol’s effect on cognitive performance can help to elucidate the complicated literature examining menthol and tobacco dependence. Implications Menthol cigarette use has continued to be a topic of debate among researchers and policy makers, because of its implications for understanding menthol’s contribution to nicotine dependence and smoking persistence, as well as its continued use as a prevalent flavoring in tobacco and nicotine products in the United States and internationally. As international tobacco regulation policies have begun to target menthol cigarettes, research studies need to examine how flavoring additives, specifically menthol, may acutely influence neurobiological and cognitive functioning as a potential mechanism of sustained smoking behavior to develop more effective treatments.

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The Efficacy of HIV/STI Behavioral Interventions for African American Females in the United States: A Meta-Analysis

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2008.139519 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 99 (11) ◽

pp. 2069-2078 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Nicole Crepaz ◽

Khiya J. Marshall ◽

Latrina W. Aupont ◽

Elizabeth D. Jacobs ◽

Yuko Mizuno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

African American ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

The United States ◽

African American Females

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Epidemiology of menthol cigarette use in the United States

Tobacco Induced Diseases ◽

10.1186/1617-9625-9-s1-s1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 9 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. S1 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Ralph S Caraballo ◽

Katherine Asman

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

The United States ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Menthol Cigarette

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HIV/AIDS Prevention, Faith, and Spirituality among Black/African American and Latino Communities in the United States: Strengthening Scientific Faith-Based Efforts to Shift the Course of the Epidemic and Reduce HIV-Related Health Disparities

Journal of Religion and Health ◽

10.1007/s10943-011-9499-z ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 514-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Madeline Y. Sutton ◽

Carolyn P. Parks

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

African American ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Aids Prevention ◽

The United States ◽

Black African ◽

Faith Based ◽

Hiv Aids ◽

Latino Communities

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Smoking Cessation Interventions among Hispanics in the United States: A Systematic Review and Mini Meta-Analysis

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.4278/ajhp.090123-lit-25 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 109-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Monica S. Webb ◽

Denise Rodríguez-Esquivel ◽

Elizabeth A. Baker

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

The United States

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Electronic Cigarettes: Their Role in the Lives of College Students

Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/08971900211026841 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089719002110268

Author(s):

Carla Daniel ◽

Christa Haddad ◽

Jamie L. McConaha ◽

Philip Lunney

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

College Students ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

The United States ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

High Prevalence

Background: Electronic cigarettes have increased in popularity amongst college-aged adults. Although often advertised as smoking cessation tools, students have taken to them as their primary exposure to nicotine. For many reasons, e-cigarettes are extremely convenient and have become the most common tobacco products among this generation. Objective: To assess perceptions and reasons for e-cigarette use in college students Methods: A 20 question online Qualtrics® survey was distributed to college students aged 18 and above across the United States. All responses were anonymous and data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative inferential and descriptive statistics. Results: Of those who used e-cigarettes, 67.7% are not likely to smoke when they are upset or sad, 56.8% disagree that stress is a factor, and 83.5% cited that alcohol was involved when smoking. Most respondents, 74% (n = 467), associated smoking with emotions of happiness, joy or peace. 43.7% who associated e-cigarettes with happiness or peace were more likely to agree that stress was an influence versus 26.5% for those who did not (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Results show a high prevalence of e-cigarette usage among college-aged students. Emotional pleasurable connections with e-cigarettes, similar to traditional cigarettes, play a role in their use. This information will allow healthcare professionals to tailor educational messages surrounding cessation.

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Differences in COVID-19 Testing and Test Positivity Among Veterans, United States, 2020

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/00333549211009498 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003335492110094

Author(s):

Jacqueline M. Ferguson ◽

Hoda S. Abdel Magid ◽

Amanda L. Purnell ◽

Mathew V. Kiang ◽

Thomas F. Osborne

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

African American ◽

Low Income ◽

The United States ◽

Positive Test ◽

Health Administration ◽

Positive Test Result ◽

Black African ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Test Result

Objective COVID-19 disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States. We evaluated characteristics associated with obtaining a COVID-19 test from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and receiving a positive test result for COVID-19. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 6 292 800 veterans in VHA care at 130 VHA medical facilities. We assessed the number of tests for SARS-CoV-2 administered by the VHA (n = 822 934) and the number of positive test results (n = 82 094) from February 8 through December 28, 2020. We evaluated associations of COVID-19 testing and test positivity with demographic characteristics of veterans, adjusting for facility characteristics, comorbidities, and county-level area-based socioeconomic measures using nested generalized linear models. Results In fully adjusted models, veterans who were female, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, urban, and low income and had a disability had an increased likelihood of obtaining a COVID-19 test, and veterans who were Asian had a decreased likelihood of obtaining a COVID-19 test. Compared with veterans who were White, veterans who were Black/African American (risk ratio [RR] = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.19-1.27) and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (RR = 1.13; 95% CI, 1.05-1.21) had an increased likelihood of receiving a positive test result. Hispanic/Latino veterans had a 43% higher likelihood of receiving a positive test result than non-Hispanic/Latino veterans did. Conclusions Although veterans have access to subsidized health care at the VHA, the increased risk of receiving a positive test result for COVID-19 among Black and Hispanic/Latino veterans, despite receiving more tests than White and non-Hispanic/Latino veterans, suggests that other factors (eg, social inequities) are driving disparities in COVID-19 prevalence.

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Vocational Rehabilitation Closure Statuses in the United States: Generalizing to the Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity

Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling ◽

10.1891/0047-2220.36.2.4 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 4-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Keith B. Wilson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

African American ◽

Vocational Rehabilitation ◽

The United States ◽

Test Statistic ◽

Multivariate Statistical ◽

Statistical Tool ◽

Black African ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Race Ethnicity

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) research focusing on race, ethnicity and other demographic variables has continued to gain needed attention in the VR literature over the past ten years. In the study described here, the Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID), an exploratory multivariate statistical tool from Answer Tree (SPSS, 2001), was used to investigate closure codes (statuses) with Race, Ethnicity, Age, and Gender. The test statistic revealed a statistically significant difference with the Hispanic ethnicity, age, and types of closures with the race (i.e., African American and White American) of customers in the United States VR system. Particularly, customers who are non-Hispanic (African Americans) between the ages of 51-60 are more likely not to be accepted for VR services (Status 08 from 02) and once accepted for VR services, close not rehabilitated (Statuses 28,30, & closed from pre-service, Status 38 from Status 04). Results further indicated that Black (African American) and White (European American) Hispanics in the United States VR system tend to have different experiences. Suggestions for VR counselors are discussed.

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