CNN —Menthol cigarette bans are effective at getting people to quit smoking, new research finds. The pooled results show that about a quarter of menthol smokers quit within a year or two when the substance is banned from cigarettes. Menthol cigarette smoking rates were lower in settings with national bans and highest when there were only local or statewide bans. Even if just a quarter of menthol smokers quit, it could improve the health of thousands of people. Menthol itself isn’t addictive, but menthol cigarettes are more attractive to new smokers, studies show, because the flavoring masks the harsh taste and smell that may put some new smokers off.

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Persons: Biden, Dr, Sarah Mills, ”, Mills, Menthol, ” Mills, We’ve, menthols, Rafael Meza, Sanjay Gupta, Meza, There’s, ” Meza Organizations: CNN, US Food and Drug Administration, Tobacco Research, European Union, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health, Gillings School of Public Health, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Studies, Foreign Relations, CNN Health, Cancer Research Institute Locations: Canada