Mentholated cigarettes are at least

Mentholated cigarettes are at least as
dangerous to an individual’s health as non-mentholated
varieties. The addition of menthol to cigarettes reduces
perceived harshness of smoke, which can facilitate
initiation. Here, we examine correlates of menthol use,
national trends in smoking menthol and non-menthol
cigarettes, and brand preferences over time.
Methods We estimated menthol cigarette use during
2004–2010 using annual data on persons ≥12 years
old from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.
We adjusted self-reported menthol status for selected
brands that were either exclusively menthol or nonmenthol,
based on sales data. Data were weighted to
provide national estimates.