Arkansas researcher to study barriers to quitting smoking among Black Americans

A researcher at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has been awarded a $733,000 NIH grant to study disparities in smoking cessation for Black Americans.

“Research has shown that tobacco companies have used various forms of advertising, marketing and partnerships with leaders in the Black community to intentionally push the use of menthol cigarettes into the Black community,” Dina M. Jones, PhD, MPH, assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said in a university press release.

More than 85% of Black American cigarette smokers use menthol cigarettes, according to the CDC. Those who smoke menthol cigarettes have been shown to have higher rates of nicotine dependence in spite of smoking fewer cigarettes a day than those who use non-menthol cigarettes.

Jones said she plans to study participants aged 21 to 75 years in the Little Rock, Arkansas, area before and after they try to quit smoking. She plans to use data from the study to create interventions to help Black American smokers successfully quit.

Reference:

Menthol smoking and related health disparities. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/menthol/related-health-disparities.html. Published June 27, 2022. Accessed Oct. 7, 2022.