There have been new studies done that have showen kids who start off with menthol cigarettes are more likely to get hooked than others who start off with other non-menthol kinds. The percent was a very large 80% that teens would be more likely to be regular smokers starting off with menthol. They aren't saying that menthol cigarettes are to blame for the teen smoking, but the minty flavor it has is more addicting than just that tabacco. The surveys were even done with kids as young as middle school, the age people are starting to smoke is becoming younger and younger as time passes and as new things are coming out to try. They have even debating taking those menthol cigarettes off the shelf in possible attempt to benefit public health. Any change to cigarrettes whether it would be taking certain kinds off the shelves, or even raising the prices of specific or all packs could benefit public health overall. Even though smoking menthol cigarettes did not show any higher risk for lung cancer or heart disease, the more they like it, the more they will smoke, and that still leads to high risk for all possible problems smoking can cause. I find this to be a global issue because it's not just here that people have this problem. Many people everyday lose their loved ones to lung cancer that is a result of their smoking, and many of them started off at an early age. In other countries it's even considered more normal of younger people to start smoking at an early age. In Europe they used to recently have cigarette machines outside on the street than anyone of any age could buy them from. In many places around the world smoking has become a great social thing. It's understandable that everyone has their stress and needs ways to help it, but lung cancer won't fix that.
News Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/10/31/kids-who-smoke-menthol-more-likely-to-get-hooked/
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