In a move projected to save hundreds of thousands of lives over the next several decades, last week the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in the US. Prohibiting menthol cigarettes and cigar flavoring is predicted to have a significant effect on reducing the appeal of these tobacco products to the youth population and, consequently, reduce the number of future smokers.
In 2019, more than 18.5 million individuals ages 12 and older in the US smoked menthol cigarettes, with particularly high rates of use by youth, young adults, and people of color.
According to the FDA announcement, “Menthol is a flavor additive with a minty taste and aroma that reduces the irritation and harshness of smoking. …The combination of menthol’s flavor, sensory effects and interaction with nicotine in the brain increases the likelihood that youth who start using menthol cigarettes will progress to regular use. Menthol also makes it more difficult for people to quit smoking.”
“The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, JD, said. “Additionally, the proposed rules represent an important step to advance health equity by significantly reducing tobacco-related health disparities.”
Tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer, and approximately 30% of all cancer deaths in the US are caused by smoking. If these rules are put into effect, it is estimated that more than 600,000 lives could be saved over the next 40 years.
Cancer Screening, Smoking Cessation, and Surgery
The FDA’s actions follow with President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot goal to reduce cancer deaths by 50% in the next 25 years. Earlier this year, the President’s Cancer Panel released of a report describing the disparities in cancer screening that have grown during the COVID-19 pandemic and discussing how close these gaps. The ACS commended the report, noting how it closely aligned with the ACS Cancer Program’s goals of reducing screening disparities.
In addition, as smoking cessation is a core element of the ACS Strong for Surgery program that aims to prepare surgery patients for optimal recovery from their operations, the ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars should help to improve the outcomes for patients who otherwise may have struggled with quitting smoking before their procedures.
