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    Menthol Tobacco Products Make it Harder to Quit

    Nicotine is the addictive drug in cigarettes and other tobacco products. In recent years, tobacco companies also have increased the amount of nicotine in some menthol cigarettes. Menthol makes it easier to inhale deeply, which leads to a bigger dose of nicotine and a stronger addiction as compared to other cigarettes. Menthol can make quitting smoking more difficult. People who smoke menthol cigarettes can be less likely to successfully quit than people who smoke non-menthol cigarettes.

    Tobacco companies aggressively market menthol-flavored tobacco products to different groups of people, especially Black people. This marketing contributes to targeted population groups being more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes than other population groups. Young people, racial and ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ people, women, people with a low income, and people with mental health conditions also are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes than other population groups.

    Tobacco companies add menthol to cigarettes, chew, and other products because it makes them seem less harsh. If they are easier to use, it’s also easier for people to develop an addiction, according to the CDC.

    • Menthol Tobacco Products are a Public Health Problem (cdc.gov)
    • Menthol Facts - Pennsylvania - state menthol fact sheets are available for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  See how Pennsylvania compares to other states.

    We can help reduce menthol tobacco use and help people quit using tobacco products by:

    • Increasing equitable access to evidence-based quitting resources, including counseling and medication.
    • Implementing policies that prohibit or decrease sales of menthol tobacco products.

    Parents and Teachers Can:

    • Learn about menthol and its relationship to tobacco product use and nicotine dependence among young people, how menthol products are disproportionately marketed to specific groups of people, and the risks of using tobacco products.
    • Take advantage of quitting resources in your community if you use tobacco products.
    • Talk to children, teens, and young adults about why all forms of tobacco products are harmful for them.

    It’s never too late to quit smoking. Quitting smoking now improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.

    Start Your Quitting Journey

    The PA Free Quitline is a free resource for quitting:

    Incentive Program for Menthol Commercial Tobacco Users - The PA Free Quitline offers incentives to help menthol tobacco users quit. Incentives will be sent to eligible menthol tobacco user participants based on completing up to three coaching calls.