A study simulating the public health impact of a US menthol cigarette ban reveals significant potential benefits for the non-Hispanic black population. Implementing the ban could lead to a substantial decrease in smoking rates, resulting in approximately 255,895 premature deaths averted and 4.0 million life years gained over a 40-year period.

The US FDA‘s (Food and Drug Administration) proposal to ban menthol cigarettes has sparked a critical analysis of its potential public health effects, especially among the non-Hispanic black (NHB) population, who have higher rates of menthol cigarette use. A simulation study applied the Menthol Smoking and Vaping Model to the NHB population, comparing a status quo scenario with a menthol ban scenario from 2021 to 2060.

The findings suggest that the ban could lead to a 35.7% reduction in overall smoking by 2026 and a 25.3% reduction by 2060, compared to the status quo. This reduction in smoking rates is projected to avert approximately 255,895 premature deaths and gain 4.0 million life years over the 40-year period, highlighting the ban’s potential to significantly reduce smoking-associated health impacts and disparities within the NHB population.

Why It Matters: The study underscores the importance of implementing a menthol cigarette ban to address health disparities and improve public health outcomes, particularly among the non-Hispanic black population. By significantly reducing smoking rates, the ban could lead to considerable health gains and contribute to narrowing the health disparity gap.

Potential Implications: The findings support the FDA’s proposal for a menthol cigarette ban, suggesting it could be a crucial step toward reducing health disparities and improving public health. This study may influence policy decisions and encourage further research on the impact of tobacco product regulation on different population groups.

Source: NY Times

More stats: Current smoking has declined from 20.9% (nearly 21 of every 100 adults) in 2005 to 11.5% (nearly 12 of every 100 adults) in 2021. More data is the “Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States” report by the CDC.