Menthol cigarettes may be more addictive

January 16, 2009 Researchers in New Jersey found menthol cigarette smokers take in more nicotine and carbon monoxide per cigarette. The study shows that menthol smokers also find it harder to quit, despite smoking fewer cigarettes per day.

The study examined nearly 1,700 people attending a university-run tobacco addiction clinic.

The results suggest that menthol is not just a neutral flavoring in cigarettes. It masks the harshness of the nicotine and toxins and can make cigarettes more deadly and addictive.

The findings are published in the online edition of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.