A new report shows the tobacco industry targeted the Black community, especially youth, with menthol cigarettes for more than 60 years. That’s according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Portia Reddick-White is a Vice President with the organization.
"The predatory marketing that they've actually invested in has left a devastating impact on our African American Black community and the health of Black Americans. Tobacco is the number one cause of death in the Black community and it kills 45,000 Black Americans each year. Black Americans die at a disproportionately high rate from tobacco-related diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke."
Reddick White says menthol cigarettes are even worse than regular products and do more damage in the long run.
"The scientific evidence shows that menthol cigarettes are more harmful to public health than other cigarettes, number one. Menthol numbs the throat, it masks the harshness of cigarette smoking. That makes it easier for kids to try cigarettes, and eventually get hooked. Menthol also makes cigarettes more addictive, harder to quit."
The organization would like to see policy changes to combat the problem.
"We're calling on the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, to use its authority to ban menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. Until the FDA does that though we're going to continue pushing Congress, as well as states and cities across the country, to take action."
To view the report: Stopping Menthol, Saving Lives, or for more information, visit tobaccofreekids.org.