Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, located right here in Western New York, released a Buffalo-focused survey that concludes: "Eliminating the sale of menthol cigarettes works."
It works to save lives, prevents kids from starting smoking and helps adults quit, especially in communities of color, according to the Roswell Park survey released Friday.
"Lung cancer places a huge burden on the city," said Dr. Andrew Hyland on Thursday, Roswell Park's Chair of of the Department of Health Behavior.
"We estimate about 144 deaths each year from lung cancer in the city, about 41 of those are African Americans. So about one black person each week dies from lung cancer in the city, and for most of them, it was [the result of] a menthol cigarette."
According to the The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, in the 1950s, less than 10% of Black smokers used menthol cigarettes. In 2023, after decades of tobacco industry targeting, that number reached 85%. Menthol cigarettes continue to be heavily advertised, widely available and priced cheaper in Black communities, including the City of Buffalo.
The study addresses the question, "What would happen if menthol cigarettes were banned in the City of Buffalo?"
Taking data from local, national and international studies, the Roswell Park Health Behavior team concluded that eliminating the sale of menthol cigarettes will prevent over 700 premature deaths in the City of Buffalo.
"734 premature deaths could be avoided and about 480 of those deaths would be African Americans. There's large benefits with a menthol cigarette ban," said Dr. Hyland.
And why is that?
"The studies show that it's harder to quit when you're using a menthol product and that menthol cigarettes encourage young people to start. They make it easier for them to progress to regular daily use."
Studies also show that policies that prevent the sale of menthol cigarettes have boosted quit rates and are saving lives. The Roswell Park study makes reference to the cigarette menthol ban throughout Canada. All provinces banned the sale of menthol cigarettes by 2018.
"States like California and Massachusetts have also banned menthol cigarettes in a number of local jurisdictions," Dr. Hyland adds.
Our federal government is currently considering a menthol cigarette ban and Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a similar ban during her 2023 budget proposal. However, after pushback amongst certain groups including big tobacco companies, Hochul's proposal was rejected by the State Legislature and the federal government's consideration continues to been delayed.
"The FDA regulation that is currently under consideration -- it's been about 10 years now. It's sort of, cycled through in various forms, the most recent version is about two years in the making, and it's at the very last stop before approval. Literally, a signature from the President right now would put that into law."
Fortunately for smokers in New York State, help is available for those looking to quit.
The New York State Smokers' Quitline is a confidential service for all New York State residents who wish to overcome dependence on commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Free offerings include individualized coaching and assistance with quit-planning from highly trained tobacco treatment specialists, text and online chat support and free shipping of stop-smoking medications such as nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges or nicotine gum for those 18 and older.
Residents of all ages may contact the Quitline for support and educational materials. In addition, the Quitline encourages teens and young adults (ages 13-24) to text “DROPTHEVAPE” to 88709 to join “This Is Quitting,” a free texting support program for help with quitting vaping. For more information, text QUITNOW to 333888 or call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) seven days a week, beginning at 9 a.m.