disproportionate number of African-Americans & young adults smoke menthol cigarettes - FDA ban?

[The Straight Story]

Study Shows Need for FDA Menthol Ban

The Food and Drug Administration's proposed ban on mentholated cigarettes is stirring controversy, but a recently released scientific journal's supplement underscores the need for federal intervention.

In March, the FDA convened the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee to decide whether to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes. During the summer, the agency heard arguments from the tobacco industry that menthol cigarettes are no more dangerous than any other type of cigarette.

But research published in the December issue of the journal Addiction found that a disproportionate number of African-Americans and young adults smoke menthol cigarettes and have a hard time quitting.

In 2009, flavored cigarettes--strawberry, grape, pineapple, and chocolate--were banned under the Family Smoking Act, but menthol, the most popular of the flavored cigarettes, was not included.

African-Americans, particularly those ages 18 to 24, are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes than any other group. Previous research found that tobacco companies have specifically targeted young black people in pushing smoking. Although manufacturers contend that menthol cigarettes are no more dangerous than any other flavor, articles published in the journal found increased nicotine addiction among daily smokers and a higher dependency rate among young smokers who did not smoke daily.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/healthcare/study-shows-need-for-fda-menthol-ban-20101124

[qazplm]

1. i hate cigarette smoking

but if there were no menthol cigarettes then young folks would just find some other discriminator.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. At least we're not seeing the dishonest claim that the FDA banned "candy cigarettes".

That said, consenting adults should be free to choose. That includes Menthol, and I would include other flavors, too. I also don't think the government should be banning Four Loko.

Fix some fucking roads and bridges, and stop with the fucking ban-happiness.

[Travis_0004]

4. Agreed 100%

People know the risk of smoking. They should be allowed to smoke if they want. I have no problem with taxes funding health care cost directly related to smoking, or government funding of quit smoking groups, but I hate when they raise taxes on cigarettes to fund things no way related to smoking, then try to ban certain types.

[SheilaT]

5. I would argue that too many smokers

are in complete denial about the risks of smoking. That said, I think cigarettes should be highly taxed, at least some of that money used to underwrite the additional medical costs associated with smoking. I personally have no problem with social ostracism of smokers, BUT, I think we should all have universal health care, and smokers and fat people and all of those with poor habits of one kind or another deserve absolutely as much good health care as someone with supposedly perfect habits.

From what I think I know about menthol cigarettes, they are probably no better and no worse at luring in new smokers than regular ones. If we're going to ban one kind we should ban them all.

[eridani]

3. I thought that young black adults were less likely to smoke at all? n/t