Menthol bans and tobacco use patterns among menthol smokers
Official title: The impact of menthol regulation for cigarettes and e-cigarettes on tobacco use patterns for current menthol smokers
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11326736 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how banning menthol in cigarettes and e-cigarettes affects how adults who smoke menthol cigarettes use tobacco products.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $732,608 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA055985-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326736 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who currently smoke menthol cigarettes and may consider using e-cigarettes or nicotine products.
✕Less likely to help
Adults who do not smoke menthol cigarettes or who are not considering changes in menthol tobacco use may not benefit.
What this research studies
If menthol is banned in cigarettes and e-cigarettes, this trial will see how patterns of cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, and nicotine replacement change among 240 current menthol smokers. Participants will be randomly assigned to menthol or non-menthol cigarettes and to menthol- or non-menthol-flavored e-liquids for seven weeks after a one-week baseline. The study uses a 2x2 design to understand how dual bans might influence quitting or switching behaviors in real-world-like conditions. Outcomes will include changes in product use and cessation-related behaviors, with data collected prospectively. The research is conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina with adult participants from the United States.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify how menthol bans might influence quit attempts and completion for menthol smokers.
How similar studies have gone: There is a shortage of prospective experimental data on menthol bans; this study addresses a critical gap with a randomized design.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Tracy Taylor — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Smith, Tracy Taylor
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.