Usa, FDA proposal against menthol cigarettes
New tightening of the screw in America against smoking. A few days ago the FDA (Food and Drug Administracion) communicated new stricter rules to ban menthol as a flavor of a type of cigarette. The primary objective is to reduce consumers of this type of cigarette and secondary, but not least, to reduce smokers in full. Smoking is the leading cause of death in the country that could be predicted and stopped. Consumption strongly affects the African American community and as many as 85% of smokers use menthol-based products. Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health stated that “The proposed new rules could help prevent children from becoming the ‘next generation’ of smokers and could help adults quit. Furthermore, the proposed rules represent an important step to promote health equity by significantly reducing inequalities. health related to tobacco “.
Usa, a new step in the fight against smoking in the country
This step is something new in the fight against smoking, after all distinctive flavors (with the exception of tobacco and menthol) in cigarettes were banned in 2009. Together with these new proposed rules, the national campaign has restarted “Cancer Moonshot”. The campaign aims to reduce the cancer death rate by at least 50% over the next 25 years. Smoking is responsible according to the FDA for approximately 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States. In this regard, the number one of the FDA Robert M. Califf, physician and professor of Cardiology, he stressed that “The authority to adopt tobacco product standards is one of the most powerful tools Congress has provided to the FDA. The proposed actions can help to significantly reduce young people’s approaches to smoking, as well as increase the chances that “old” smokers will quit. It is clear that these efforts will help save lives “.”
Usa, the attractant menthol produced in cigarettes that interacts with the brain
But what is menthol and what does it represent? Menthol is a mint flavored and scented additive that reduces the irritation and harshness of smoke. This allows menthol cigarettes to be more attractive to young people starting out and adults who can’t quit. However, the product also interacts with nicotine in the brain, increasing addiction. This mix increases the risk that young people who have started smoking menthol cigarettes will be able to continue with regular cigarettes. The numbers of smokers in America are, unfortunately, dramatic. In 2019, there were nearly 19 million menthol cigarette smokers over the age of 12 in the United States. According to the White House, consumption was high among youth, young adults and African Americans and other ethnic groups. Hope, according to forecast studies, think it possible to reduce smoking by 15% within 40 years if menthol cigarettes are no longer available and between 324,000 and 654,000 deaths attributable to smoking in general would be avoided. But the proposal, despite the government being rather firm, will have to pass through the barrage of tobacco industry lobbyists. And the war continues.