Menthol is a chemical naturally found in peppermint and other mint plants. It’s also made in labs for use in different foods, medications, health items, and tobacco products. It’s one of the most popular flavors added to tobacco. Most people who smoke start with menthol cigarettes, and almost 9 out of 10 African Americans who smoke or vape use menthol products.
While the tobacco industry uses menthol to make their products seem less harmful, tobacco products aren’t safer with menthol. Inhaling menthol while smoking or vaping creates a cool feeling, reducing pain and irritation in the airway. It also decreases coughing and gives the illusion of improved breathing while smoking.
Menthol use can lead to several health issues in both men and women, especially for those dealing with fertility problems, bone and teeth issues, diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers. The FDA and CDC advise against using menthol tobacco, as it’s more addictive and harder to quit than non-menthol products.
In our effort to educate our community on the dangers of menthol products and to promote quitting, we created and launched No Menthol May.
No Menthol May is an expansion of The Center for Black Health & Equity’s No Menthol Sunday, a national movement aimed at raising awareness of menthol product dangers and promoting quitting in the African American community. It engages our churches and community in discussions about the tobacco industry’s predatory practices and the role of menthol and flavored tobacco products in tobacco remaining the number one killer of African Americans.
The No Menthol May project partners with African American faith-based churches in Las Vegas. Throughout May, these churches implement tobacco-free campus policies or minimum-distance policies to reduce secondhand smoke exposure on their grounds every Sunday.
Starting in May, SNHD collaborates with community volunteers and church leaders to organize events encouraging church members to avoid menthol products. Members pledge to be menthol-free and invite others to join them. Throughout May, partnering churches incorporate No Menthol May’s goals into their services by sharing educational materials and social media posts, reinforcing the message to attendees and online followers.
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