Smoking can weaken your immune system and put you at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. Smoking is also a major cause of heart disease and stroke, which along with lung cancer, are the three leading causes of death among African Americans. A major difference in smoking behavior between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites is that an overwhelming majority of African Americans smokers use menthol tobacco products.

​Since the 1960s, menthol has been heavily marketed to African Americans. Today, 80-90% of African American smokers use menthol tobacco, compared to less than 30% of non-Hispanic white smokers. The disproportionate use of menthol tobacco among African Americans might contribute to smoking-related health disparities -African Americans who smoke menthols have a lower likelihood of quitting than those who smoke non-menthols.

Our Work

No Menthol Sunday in Wisconsin
​Strategic Partners:  Led by the NAATPN in partnership with the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN), American Cancer Society, American HeartAssociation and American Lung Association. Funding provided by the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.