Cigarette dependence is examined among menthol versus non-menthol smokers.
•
Menthol smokers do not report smoking more cigarettes per day.
•
Menthol smokers do not report shorter times to first cigarette after waking.
•
Menthol smokers do not report higher Heaviness of Smoking Index scores.
•
Available evidence indicates menthol in cigarettes does not increase dependence.
Abstract
Previously published studies provide somewhat inconsistent evidence on whether menthol in cigarettes is associated with increased dependence. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, National Health Interview Survey, and Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey collect data on current cigarette type preference and primary measures of dependence, and thus allow examination of whether menthol smokers are more dependent than non-menthol smokers. Analyses based on combined data from multiple administrations of each of these four nationally representative surveys, using three definitions for current smokers (i.e., smoked ⩾1 day, ⩾10 days and daily during the past month), consistently demonstrate that menthol smokers do not report smoking more cigarettes per day than non-menthol smokers. Moreover, two of the three surveys that provide data on time to first cigarette after waking indicate no difference in urgency to smoke among menthol compared to non-menthol smokers, while the third suggests menthol smokers may experience a greater urgency to smoke; estimates from all three surveys indicate that menthol versus non-menthol smokers do not report a higher Heaviness of Smoking Index. Collectively, these findings indicate no difference in dependence among U.S. smokers who use menthol compared to non-menthol cigarettes.
Abbreviations
FTND
Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence
HSI
Heaviness of Smoking Index
NHANES
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
NHIS
National Health Interview Survey
NSDUH
National Survey on Drug Use and Health
NYTS
National Youth Tobacco Survey
TUS-CPS
Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey