With college students smoking on campuses across the U.S. – despite building distance bans at some, they may be happy to learn that smoking menthol cigarettes may be less likely to develop lung cancer, according to a new Journal of National Cancer Institute Study.
So are students across the country now more likely to smoke menthol?
“Maybe, since I normally only smoke when a friend offers, after hearing about this study,” one senior from Bowdoin College in Maine said. “I would hope that the cigarette they offer me is a menthol one.”
According to WebMD, the new study ironically comes out after the FDA published statements saying removing menthol cigarettes from the market may “improve public health because menthol cigarettes may be more difficult to quit than non-menthol cigarettes, and may be more enticing to young smokers because of their minty taste.”
“The new study information almost closes the door on the lung cancer issue,” study researcher William J. Blot, PhD, of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville said, in the WebMD article. “The main message is that cigarettes are harmful, regardless of whether they are menthol or non-menthol, and the best action is to quit smoking. I don’t think there is enough scientific evidence to justify a ban of menthol cigarettes in comparison with non-menthol cigarettes.”
Many students agree that even if menthol might be better, they still want to stay away from the cigarettes.
“I think it’s disgusting, number one, but also I just don’t know why I would try something that I know I can get addicted to almost immediately,” Jourdan K., a junior at Boston University said. “The good feeling that people say smoking gives isn't worth the damages it causes.”
Echoing Jourdan K’s views, the new study still showed that menthol smokers who smoke one pack a day are still 12 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non smokers. Even though it found that menthol smokers typically smoke less cigarettes a day than those who smoked regular cigarettes, there was still an equal “quitting rate” between the two groups.
“It is well-known that menthol smokers smoke fewer cigarettes per day than regular cigarette smokers [and this is] but one reason why it is highly unlikely that banning menthol cigarettes will lead to a decrease in cigarette smokers,” Gilbert Ross, medical director for the American Council on Science and Health said in the WebMD article.
Still, even if they stay on the market, the new study may not sway students who have already decided against smoking.
“I don’t smoke because it’s bad for you, and I wouldn’t care about less risk with menthol because it’s all a risk for lung cancer,” CSU junior Dana Bencivengo said.
I enjoyed this story. I think bringing information about cigarettes into the limelight is incredibly important, especially for students. It really bothers me that even with all of the statements put out by the Surgeons General Warning and the decades upon decades of watching people contract lung cancer and die....people still smoke! It is ridiculous to me. I think that this story is well rounded and incorporates some good quotes directly from students to back up and support your points made. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting way to look at an issue that's probably been covered to death in recent years.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Nice to see something that talks about the specifics of different kinds of smoking rather than just as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWould have been interesting to get input from someone who does smoke, though. There are plenty of CSU students who do for whatever reason. Also, be careful with just quoting people from other articles... I've gotten burned by that before.
Interesting to look at a specific type of smoking, rather than smoking in general. Talking to someone who smokes would have been a nice add-on to see what people on the other side have to say.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting story, I personally smoke and I think this story is informative to me and other people who smoke. I think you should have interviewed someone who smoked to give it a more in depth view on the story.
ReplyDeleteVery nice story! I thought it was very interesting and informative. I could see this being made into a video piece for an evening newscast. I personally don't smoke but that information was great to know because basically everyone I am around does. I want them to stop but maybe if this is safer they can do the Menthols.
ReplyDeleteYou made a topic that is normally covered so much and boring seem new and fresh by approaching a new angle. I think it's ironic that they are now touting a new "healthier" cig. Can't wait to see what anti-smoking organizations have to say about this.
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