Cohn Amy M, Elmasry Hoda, Ashare Rebecca, Pickworth Wallace, Murphy James G, Villanti Andrea C, Hedeker Donald, Dunn Delaney, Wyatt Riley, Niznik Taylor, Margaritis Whitney D, Smith Michael A, Ehlke Sarah J, Audrain-McGovern Janet
Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 Sep 18. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntae186.
Menthol cigarettes are associated with experimentation and progression to regular use. Although reinforcement processes likely underlie menthol's appeal, the reinforcing value of menthol cigarettes remains unknown.
This study examined the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of menthol versus nonmenthol cigarettes in young adult menthol (n = 54) and nonmenthol (n = 53) smokers, and differences in menthol's RRV by race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Overnight abstinent participants completed a choice task assessing willingness to "work" to click targets on a computer screen to earn menthol or nonmenthol cigarette puffs. A progressive ratio schedule was used where the menthol target had to be clicked progressively more times, over 10 trials, to earn a menthol cigarette puff, while clicks for the nonmenthol target were fixed across trials. RRV for menthol was defined by the breakpoint, or the highest trial (out of to 10) completed for a menthol cigarette puff. Number of clicks for menthol and nonmenthol puffs were also examined.
Menthol smokers worked harder for menthol versus nonmenthol cigarette puffs (breakpoint = 9.17; ~1236 clicks vs. 24 clicks). Breakpoint was higher among Hispanic (6.49) versus NH White (4.83) and NH non-White smokers (4.43). In exploratory analyses of interactions of menthol preference with race and ethnicity, nonmenthol Hispanic smokers worked harder for menthol cigarette puffs versus NH non-White and NH White nonmenthol smokers.
Menthol cigarettes are highly reinforcing for young adult menthol and Hispanic smokers. A menthol ban may reduce addiction risk among younger individuals and some minoritized groups of smokers.
This study provides evidence of the greater relative reinforcing value of menthol compared to nonmenthol cigarettes among young adults who had a cigarette flavor preference, suggesting increased addiction risk of menthol cigarettes. Young adult menthol smokers and Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic) smokers worked harder to earn menthol (vs. nonmenthol) cigarette puffs. Findings add to the evidence base supporting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) intent to ban menthol in cigarettes. Further, prevention messaging campaigns and cessation programs should take into account the reinforcing value of menthol in cigarettes, especially in vulnerable and at-risk populations.
薄荷醇香烟与尝试吸烟以及发展为经常吸烟有关。尽管强化过程可能是薄荷醇具有吸引力的基础，但薄荷醇香烟的强化价值仍然未知。
本研究考察了年轻成年薄荷醇吸烟者（n = 54）和非薄荷醇吸烟者（n = 53）中薄荷醇香烟与非薄荷醇香烟的相对强化价值（RRV），以及按种族、族裔和性取向划分的薄荷醇RRV差异。过夜戒烟的参与者完成了一项选择任务，评估他们为在电脑屏幕上点击目标以获得薄荷醇或非薄荷醇香烟抽吸而“努力”的意愿。采用累进比率程序，在10次试验中，薄荷醇目标必须被点击越来越多次才能获得一口薄荷醇香烟抽吸，而非薄荷醇目标的点击次数在各试验中固定不变。薄荷醇的RRV由断点定义，即获得一口薄荷醇香烟抽吸所完成的最高试验次数（共10次）。还考察了获得薄荷醇和非薄荷醇抽吸的点击次数。
与非薄荷醇香烟抽吸相比，薄荷醇吸烟者为获得薄荷醇香烟抽吸付出了更多努力（断点 = 9.17；约1236次点击对24次点击）。西班牙裔吸烟者的断点（6.49）高于非西班牙裔白人吸烟者（4.83）和非西班牙裔非白人吸烟者（4.43）。在对薄荷醇偏好与种族和族裔相互作用的探索性分析中，非薄荷醇西班牙裔吸烟者为获得薄荷醇香烟抽吸比非西班牙裔非白人吸烟者和非西班牙裔白人非薄荷醇吸烟者付出了更多努力。
薄荷醇香烟对年轻成年薄荷醇吸烟者和西班牙裔吸烟者具有高度强化作用。禁止薄荷醇香烟可能会降低年轻个体和一些少数族裔吸烟者群体的成瘾风险。
本研究提供了证据，表明在有香烟口味偏好的年轻成年人中，薄荷醇香烟的相对强化价值高于非薄荷醇香烟，这表明薄荷醇香烟的成瘾风险增加。年轻成年薄荷醇吸烟者和西班牙裔（与非西班牙裔相比）吸烟者为获得薄荷醇（与非薄荷醇相比）香烟抽吸付出了更多努力。研究结果为支持美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）禁止香烟中使用薄荷醇的意图增添了证据基础。此外，预防宣传活动和戒烟项目应考虑到香烟中薄荷醇的强化价值，特别是在易受影响和高危人群中。
