|
|||
 |
 |
 |
|
|
The National African American Tobacco Prevention Network is Awarded $2 Million from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to Expand the Science of Tobacco Control and Build Capacity in the African American Community NAATPN Advocates Menthol Ban in Tobacco Regulation Bill NAATPN has withdrawn its support of H.R. 1108, a bill that proposes to allow FDA regulation of tobacco products. Though the bill has many positive elements, NAATPN’s key concern is the treatment of menthol-flavored cigarettes. While fruit- and candy-flavored cigarettes are banned in the proposed bill, menthol is exempted from this ban. This is significant because of the impact menthol has on the African-American community. Nearly eighty percent of African-American smokers use mentholated cigarettes. Menthol, which masks the harshness of emissions and allows a bypassing of the body’s normal defense mechanisms for preventing exposure to detrimental substances, has also been indicated by some research to increase the retention of cancer-causing substances. African-American menthol smokers use fewer cigarettes per day but suffer disproportionately from their effects when compared to Caucasian smokers. These and other concerns have caused NAATPN to feel that tobacco legislation that treats menthol differently from other flavoring additives is incomplete, and passing the bill in its present state would not only delay addressing the question of menthol, but would also act as precedent for other bills (i.e., S316 in New Jersey) with the same weakness. NAATPN is committed to assisting with the development of legislation that ultimately results in FDA regulation of tobacco products, but is not willing to do so at the expense of African Americans who currently suffer disproportionately from their use. Learn more about NAATPN’s position on H.R. 1108 and link to news articles and radio broadcasts.
|
Mission Contact Us |