New studies published in the May issue of the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) show that a ban on menthol cigarettes would prevent up to 600,000 smoking-related premature deaths by 2050, a third of those from the African American community alone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently weighing a ban on the products. Researchers say a ban is supported by a majority of Americans (56 percent), particularly African Americans (76 percent) who are disproportionately affected by menthol.

For decades, the tobacco industry has heavily marketed menthol cigarettes to minorities, and as a result, the menthol smoking rates among these communities are disproportionately high; 80 percent of African Americans who smoke, smoke menthol cigarettes. African Americans are further disadvantaged -- as one study released by AJPH in May found - because though more menthol smokers try to stop, fewer are successful at quitting, especially African Americans.

In addition to the AJPH articles, the Center for American Progress, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., simultaneously released a policy report titled: "Flavored Disease and Death for Minorities:Why the FDA Must Ban Menthol Cigarettes." The report confirms menthol cigarettes disproportionate negative impact on youth and minority groups. The policy report also calls on the FDA to "unequivocally ban the sale and distribution of menthols cigarettes in the United States."

On the heels of the new research released by AJPH, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, Center for American Progress and Legacy joined together at the National Press Club on May 12 to call on the FDA to remove menthol cigarettes from the market. The group presented the new data and urged the FDA to move swiftly in reviewing TPSAC's conclusion that the American public would benefit from a menthol ban. An initial response from the FDA is expected in mid-June 2011.

Read more from the joint press release here.

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A special issue in the American Journal of Health Promotion published in May provides insight into how to effectively reduce tobacco's impact on groups who are disproportionately affected by tobacco use. Socioeconomic differences, historical factors, and cultural practices, as well as aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry, have all contributed to a higher rate of tobacco use and related disease in certain populations. For example, African Americans experience higher rates of lung cancer although they tend to smoke fewer cigarettes per day than other groups. Those with less than a high school education have higher smoking rates and lower quit rates than smokers with a high school degree or higher.

Researchers whose work was published in the special issue found that population-based approaches to smoking cessation, such as mass media campaigns and smoking quitlines, can positively impact quitting behaviors among racial/ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) smokers, with varying effects across these groups. One study examined 18 years of data from the California Smokers' Helpline and found that African American adult smokers called the quitline at higher rates when compared to white adult smokers. African Americans who called the quitline also reported higher rates of awareness of the quitline from mass media campaigns, compared to whites who called the quitline.

Another study showed that mass media campaigns also play an important role when designed for racial/ethnic minorities and low SES groups in encouraging quit attempts. According to the study, Legacy's national cessation campaign, EX^®, increased cessation-related attitudes among Hispanics and smokers with less than a high school education. Exposure to EX was associated with increased quit attempts among African Americans and smokers with less than a high school education.

The special issue underscores the need to increase access and exposure to tobacco interventions among minorities and low socioeconomic groups, who traditionally have less access to health care resources.

Read the full release here.

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Diverse Cultures Spur Innovative Approaches to Tobacco Control

The Kokua Kahili Valley (KKV) is a neighborhood community of Honolulu, Hawaii, and is home to a diverse group of Asian and Pacific Island cultures, ethnic groups and immigrant communities. Though rich with exotic traditions and heritage, one documented and problematic cultural custom includes the use of smokeless tobacco. It is a significant and growing health concern among the low-income, predominantly immigrant Micronesian community, according to the KKV Tobacco Cessation Program (TCP). Residents from this particular community often mix smokeless tobacco with betel nut - a mild stimulant made from seed of the Areca Palm -- which is chewed as a matter of custom. The frequent combination of betel nut with chewing tobacco puts many KKV users at high risk for developing severe, life-threatening health problems including oral cancer.  In addition, this population faces cultural and financial barriers to accessing mainstream tobacco cessation and prevention services. Through a Legacy-funded project entitled "Talking Today for a Tobacco Free Tomorrow," KKVTPC uses culturally appropriate methods to raise awareness of the dangers of smokeless tobacco and betel nut use and to provide resources to help users quit. The group uses community-based methods to reach out to their target population. In its first two years, KKVTCP enrolled 24 patients into its cessation program and continues to train and engage community members and public health and healthcare workers on how to identify, assess and refer betel nut and smokeless tobacco users to appropriate resources.