March 30, 2011

ANNOUNCER:
A SURVEY CONDUCTED THIS MONTH REVEALS ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS OF MENTHOL SMOKERS, SHOWING THEY FEEL “TWICE-ADDICTED”  BOTH TO THE MENTHOL AND TO THE TOBACCO IN CIGARETTES.  WHAT’S MORE, FOUR OUT OF FIVE MENTHOL SMOKERS SAY THEY WOULD LIKELY TRY TO QUIT IF THE FDA WERE TO BAN MENTHOL CIGARETTES.  DOCTOR CEDRIC BRIGHT IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, AND PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.  

DR. CEDRIC BRIGHT
Most menthol smokers in the survey reported that they want to quit, but were less likely to have tried quitting compared to our regular smokers, and also less likely to have tried any types of treatment.  More needs to be done to educate our smokers about accessible resources, such as counseling and nicotine replacement therapy, which are proven methods for improving smoker’s chances of quitting.”

ANNOUNCER:
DOCTOR BRIGHT IS A PAID SPOKESPERSON FOR GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE BUT HIS OPINIONS REGARDING SMOKING CESSATION ARE HIS OWN.  EIGHTY-TWO PERCENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ADULT SMOKERS SURVEYED CHOOSE MENTHOL CIGARETTES, VERSUS JUST ONE-QUARTER OF ADULT SMOKERS OF OTHER GROUPS. THE GOOD NEWS IS MOST WANT TO QUIT.  VISIT NICORETTE DOT COM FOR MORE ON QUITTING SMOKING.