According to a new study, menthol cigarettes would increase smoking and nicotine addiction among young people.
In a new study published in the journal JAMA Networkresearchers at the University of California came to ask whether young people who smoke menthol cigarettes had symptoms of nicotine addiction more quickly than those consuming only menthol-free cigarettes. After six years of work, the results show that the adolescents Americans who consumed menthol cigarettes smoked more regularly and became addicted to the tobacco alkaloid faster than those who consumed conventional cigarettes.
More addictive menthol cigarettes
To reach this conclusion, the researchers followed 1,096 young American cigarette smokers between the ages of 12 and 17. Each participant completed an online interview with the researchers. People eligible for the study were those who had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days and who specified that they smoked menthol cigarettes. A total of 1,492 observations were recorded.
The results thus show that 61% of the participants went from the status of non-smoker to that of smoker. Regarding their consumption of menthol cigarettes, it was associated with the fact of 3.1 additional days; a 59% higher risk of smoking regularly ; and 10% higher nicotine addiction scores. For its part, switching from menthol-flavored cigarettes to non-menthol cigarettes was correlated with a 3.6-day reduction in tobacco consumption and a 47% reduction in the risk of becoming a dependent smoker. .
Eric Leas, lead author of the study, came to clarify through a press release that “the cooling sensation of menthol masks the harshness of tobacco, which can make cigarettes more pleasant for young people. Additionally, this cooling sensation allows you to inhale the smoke deeper and longer, which can lead to more nicotine absorption with each puff. This can accelerate nicotine addiction, leading young people to smoke more often.” Finally, the researchers state that smoking menthol cigarettes would make progress towards quitting smoking more difficult.