150 Participants Needed
Yale University logo

Menthol Ban Impact on Tobacco Smoking

Recruiting in New Haven (>99 mi)
KB
Overseen ByKrysten Bold, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Yale University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Menthol cigarette use remains a major public health problem and the FDA has proposed to ban menthol in cigarettes. However, additional evidence is needed to understand whether menthol flavor in e-cigarettes is important for harm reduction among menthol cigarette smokers in the context of a menthol cigarette ban. The primary aim of this project is to understand how the availability of menthol vs tobacco flavor e-cigarettes influences switching and reduces smoking behavior among adults who currently smoke menthol cigarettes to understand the potential effects in the context of a ban of menthol cigarettes.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have a serious psychiatric or medical condition, you may be excluded from participating.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment menthol ban in cigarettes?

Research suggests that banning menthol in cigarettes may help increase quitting rates among menthol smokers, as switching to non-menthol cigarettes could change smoking behavior. However, evidence is limited and mixed, with some studies indicating no significant difference in smoking habits between menthol and non-menthol cigarette users.12345

Is the menthol ban in cigarettes safe for humans?

There is no specific safety data on the menthol ban itself, but mentholated cigarettes are considered at least as harmful as non-mentholated ones, suggesting that removing menthol may not introduce new safety concerns.16789

How does the menthol ban treatment differ from other smoking cessation treatments?

The menthol ban treatment is unique because it targets the removal of menthol flavoring from cigarettes, which is believed to help increase quitting rates among menthol smokers by reducing the appeal of smoking. Unlike other smoking cessation treatments that may involve medications or behavioral therapies, this approach focuses on altering the product itself to discourage use.13101112

Research Team

KB

Krysten Bold, PhD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 21 who are in good health, currently smoke menthol cigarettes, and have used e-cigarettes before. They must be able to read English and provide consent. People seeking smoking cessation treatment or with serious medical/psychiatric conditions or drug use can't participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Currently smoking cigarettes
Willing to try e-cigarettes
I am in good overall health.
See 3 more

Exclusion Criteria

I am not taking any other drugs that are not allowed in this trial.
Seeking smoking cessation treatment
I have a serious mental or physical health condition.
See 2 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline

Participants have access to their usual menthol cigarettes

2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive tobacco products based on their assigned group for 8 weeks

8 weeks

Follow-up

A follow-up survey at week 12 will assess tobacco use outcomes

4 weeks
1 visit (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • menthol ban in cigarettes only
  • total menthol ban
Trial OverviewThe study is examining the effects of a menthol ban in cigarettes on smokers' behavior by comparing two scenarios: one where only menthol cigarettes are banned, and another where all menthol tobacco products are banned. It aims to see if this influences people to switch to e-cigarettes.
Participant Groups
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: menthol ban in cigarettes onlyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
non-menthol cigarettes and menthol flavored e-cigarette available
Group II: menthol ban in both cigarettes and e-cigarettesExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
non-menthol cigarettes and tobacco flavored e-cigarette available,
Group III: no menthol banActive Control1 Intervention
usual menthol cigarettes and menthol flavored e-cigarette available

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yale University logo

Yale University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,963
Recruited
3,046,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials
2,658
Recruited
3,409,000+

Findings from Research

African American menthol smokers who switched to non-menthol cigarettes smoked fewer cigarettes per day and reported lower withdrawal symptoms, suggesting a potential benefit in smoking behavior when menthol is banned.
The study indicates that switching to non-menthol cigarettes does not lead to more hazardous smoking behavior, and may even support increased cessation efforts among menthol smokers.
Effects on Smoking Behavior of Switching Menthol Smokers to Non-menthol Cigarettes.Kotlyar, M., Shanley, R., Dufresne, SR., et al.[2022]
Studies comparing menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes have shown inconsistent results regarding their toxicity, leading manufacturers to claim that menthol does not increase harm.
The authors argue that focusing solely on toxicity is too limited and does not adequately address the broader public health concerns associated with menthol cigarettes.
Menthol should not be given a free pass based on studies of biomarkers of toxicity.Clark, PI., Gardiner, P.[2018]
A study involving 29 menthol cigarette smokers showed that switching to non-menthol cigarettes led to a significant reduction in daily cigarette consumption by an average of 2.2 cigarettes, indicating a potential decrease in smoking behavior if menthol cigarettes were banned.
Participants also experienced a notable decrease in nicotine dependence (over 18%) and increased motivation and confidence to quit smoking, particularly among Black smokers, suggesting that a menthol ban could enhance public health outcomes.
Evaluating the effect of switching to non-menthol cigarettes among current menthol smokers: an empirical study of a potential ban of characterising menthol flavour in cigarettes.Bold, KW., Jatlow, P., Fucito, LM., et al.[2022]

References

Effects on Smoking Behavior of Switching Menthol Smokers to Non-menthol Cigarettes. [2022]
Menthol should not be given a free pass based on studies of biomarkers of toxicity. [2018]
Evaluating the effect of switching to non-menthol cigarettes among current menthol smokers: an empirical study of a potential ban of characterising menthol flavour in cigarettes. [2022]
Assessing the Evidence on the Differential Impact of Menthol versus Non-menthol Cigarette Use on Initiation and Progression to Regular Smoking: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. [2022]
Menthol cigarettes and the public health standard: a systematic review. [2018]
Comparison of Carcinogen Biomarkers in Smokers of Menthol and Nonmenthol Cigarettes: The 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Special Sample. [2023]
Differential trends in cigarette smoking in the USA: is menthol slowing progress? [2022]
An Analysis of Twitter Posts About the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Menthol Ban. [2023]
Public Perceptions of the Food and Drug Administration's Proposed Rules Prohibiting Menthol Cigarettes on Twitter: Observational Study. [2023]
The Impact of Menthol Cigarette Flavor in the U.S.: Cigarette and ENDS Transitions by Sociodemographic Group. [2023]
Illicit purchasing and use of flavour accessories after the European Union menthol cigarette ban: findings from the 2020-21 ITC Netherlands Surveys. [2023]
Should menthol e-cigarettes be banned? Reaction of adult smokers and users of e-cigarettes to hypothetical bans. [2023]