Menthol cigarettes face scrutiny after new studies

Smoking accounts for 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, according to Smoking Statistics, an addiction resource website. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in cigarettes, which users find hard to quit, even through substance abuse programs. Now, researchers are pushing to put a ban on menthol cigarettes, which have a distinct flavor that hooks many smokers.

Eleven new studies have shown that African Americans and young adults have been specifically drawn to menthol cigarettes, according to ABC News. Menthol smokers also have a more difficult time attempting to quit. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that as a result of these studies, and others that have been conducted in the past, it will begin to look into the dangers of menthol cigarettes.

This new research was released to the public shortly after a lawsuit was filed against Lorillard Inc., the creator of Newport menthol cigarettes. A man claims his mother died after years of smoking. She started at age 9 when cigarettes were distributed for free to her housing development. Substance abuse programs for youth are geared toward preventing drug use among kids.