All of you who think you are doing good to your body by smoking menthols may just be wasting your time.

As of Tuesday the US Food and Drug Administration said they may have to place restrictions on menthol cigarettes. According to study results, the product is actually more addictive than regular cigarettes “menthol cigarettes pose a public health risk above that seen with non-menthol cigarettes.”

The review stated that while menthols take up about a quarter of all smokes sold in the United States, they are no more or less toxic than your regular brand. The fact that menthols “fresh” persona makes them more appealing to new or non smokers may be problem.

FDA:

Menthol smokers show greater signs of nicotine dependence and are less likely to successfully quit smoking

The FDA is researching whether there will be a limit of menthol in cigarettes and how they will be marketed to young people. They cannot ban the cigarette without more evidence and public help.

David Dobbins, chief operating officer at Legacy, a tobacco research company:

This additional delay will simply prolong the disease and death caused by menthol cigarettes, with particularly adverse consequences for youth and African-Americans who smoke menthol cigarettes at disproportionately higher rates.

[Source: Reuters]