ISN’T TOBACCO GROWN IN THE CONFEDERACY? –
April 24, 2023 – African American adults have the highest percentage of menthol cigarette use compared with other racial and ethnic groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 18 million people in the U.S. smoke menthol cigarettes, but the FDA said almost 85% of Black smokers choose menthol cigarettes, compared with 30% of white smokers.
Menthol, a flavor additive with a minty taste and aroma, interacts with nicotine in the brain to enhance nicotine’s addictive effects, and the combination of menthol’s flavor, sensory effects and interaction with nicotine in the brain increases the likelihood that young people who start using menthol cigarettes will progress to regular use, according to the FDA.
