Menthol Cigarettes Be smart don’t start Abdinassir

What is menthol? Menthol is found naturally in mint plants such as peppermint and spearmint. It gives a cooling sensation and is frequently used to relieve minor pain and irritation and to prevent infection. Found in Lozenges Syrups Creams/ointments Nasal sprays Cigarette companies use menthol's ability to mask irritation and provide sensory effects to make menthol cigarettes appeal to youth

Research and Evidence 43.8 million people, or 19.0% of all adults 18+ years, in U.S smoke cigarettes. According to CDC 32% of all cigarettes sold in the U.S in 2010 were mentholated brands. About 90% of cigarettes marketed contains menthol, even if they are not advertised as menthol cigarettes. 1 in 4 cigarettes sold contains menthol.

Generally, cigarette smoking has declined in recent years. Non-menthol cigarette use has decreased from 17.1% to 14.6% From menthol cigarette use has increased from 7.7% to 8.2%

Past Month Menthol Cigarette Use among Persons Aged 12 or Older, by recency of Cigarette Initiation: 2004 to 2006 and 2007 to 2010

Gender comparison

Figure 1 Table. Trends in Past Month Menthol Cigarette Use among Past Month Cigarette Smokers Aged 12 or Older, by Age Group: 2004 to 2008 Source: 2004 to 2008 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). Age Group Aged 12 to %41.5%44.5%47.7% Aged 18 to %34.0%35.6%38.5%40.8% Aged 26 or Older 29.3%29.4%29.9%30.4%31.5%

Costs Cigarettes smoking is not only unhealthy but it is also costly. 1 Day $7.17 (1 packet) 1 Week $ Month $ year $2, Years* $34, Years* $96, *Based on price of cigarettes increasing 6% annually.

Solutions Ban the use of menthol as an additive, not just as a “characterizing flavor Implement procedures that bring the FDA into compliance with FCTC Article 5.3 According to the Article 5.3 Guidelines, Parties to the Convention should REFUSE to: a)Treat tobacco corporations as “stakeholders” in public health policy. b)Invest in the tobacco industry. c)Partner with tobacco corporations to promote public health or other purposes. d)Accept the tobacco industry’s so-called corporate social responsibility schemes, which are really just marketing by another name. Prohibit cigarette companies from labeling and color-coding cigarettes as “light” and “mild” cigarettes.

Larger warning Labels on all tobacco products

Select Strong Warning labels and pictures like it has been done in other countries.

1-800-QUITLINE should be printed on all cigarette packets and Ads

Venue/ vehicle H.R Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act 111th Congress ( ) Prohibits a cigarette or any of its components from containing as a constituent or additive any artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or any herb or spice (including strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, and vanilla) that is a characterizing flavor of the tobacco product or tobacco smoke. bill/1256?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22H.R.+1256%2C+Family+Smoking+Prevent ion+and+Tobacco+Control+Act%22%5D%7D

Policy champions/policy paramours Richard Blumenthal, senior Senator from Connecticut. “The dangers of menthol tobacco products in general, and to our youth in particular, are highly concerning, and provide abundant grounds for FDA to develop a plan that will result in the removal of menthol from tobacco products to protect public health,” Richard Blumenthal, senior Senator from Connecticut.

46-state filled lawsuit against the tobacco industry, which alleged that the companies involved had deceived the public about the dangers of smoking. He wanted the state of Connecticut to be reimbursed for Medicaid expenses related to smoking. Tobacco companies and 46 states reached a $246 billion settlement. Connecticut got about $3.6 billion. In December 2007, he filed a suit against RJ Reynolds alleging deception in advertising using a cartoon, which was a violation of tobacco settlement. The company paid the state of Connecticut $150,000 to settle the lawsuit. In 2011 He wrote a letter to the FDA to protect public health through the “removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace.”

Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) He sponsored H.R Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act 3/3/2009

Donna M. Christensen The Congressional delegate from the United States Virgin Islands. She serves as an Assistant Minority Whip in the Democratic Caucus. She heads the black caucus’s health task force. She was was working with Representative Henry Waxman to change the wording of the bill before it passed. She was a cosponsor of He sponsored H.R Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act 3/3/2009

Stakeholders Non- Governmental Governmental: African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council FDA American Academy of Pediatrics U.S. Department of Health & Human Services American Association for Cancer Research American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network American Heart Association American Legacy Foundation American Lung Association American Public Health Association Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Corporate Accountability International NAATPN, Inc. National Association of City and County Health Officials National Latino Alliance for Health Equity Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. Tobacco Control Legal Consortium.

Marketing and messaging Did you know? Cancer cures smoking Quitting cures smoking Tar is used for making road not your lungs. Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics.

The city of Chicago is discouraging youth from using menthol cigarettes through advertising.

References American Lung Association. (2013). Public health leaders urge FDA to act on menthol cigarettes. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from menthol-cigarettes.htmlhttp:// menthol-cigarettes.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking and tobacco use. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Chicago Department of Public Health. Tobacco prevention. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Framework Convention Alliance. (2012). Article 5.3, framework convention on tobacco control – tobacco industry interference. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from interference/718-article-53-framework-convention-on-tobacco-control-tobacco-industry-interferencehttp:// interference/718-article-53-framework-convention-on-tobacco-control-tobacco-industry-interference Gaille, B. (2014). 68 examples of catchy no smoking slogans and taglines. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from H.R Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco, (2009). Space Coast Daily. (2014). U.S. panel: Lung cancer screening for heavy smokers. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Spot Shopping Guide. Australian plain packaging anti-smoking law. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2009). Use of menthol cigarettes No. NSDUH_134). Rockville, MD.: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Critical Mind. In 1954 the tobacco industry research committee said that there was no proof that smoking causes cancer. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from there-was-no-proof-that-smoking-causes-cancer/ there-was-no-proof-that-smoking-causes-cancer/ The Design Inspiration. Top 45 creative anti-smoking advertisements. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from The Library of Congress. (2013). Biography of congresswoman donna M. christensen. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from The Library of Congress. (2013). Representative henry A. waxman (D-CA). Retrieved March 9, 2014, from The Library of Congress. (2013). Richard blumenthal. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from The Telegraph. Pictures of the day: 7 april Retrieved March 10, 2014, from 7-April-2011.html?image= April-2011.html?image=27 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Menthol cigarettes. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from