{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T07:24:38Z","timestamp":1782372278146,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760659200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760659200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010628","name":"Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["U54DA060049"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["U54DA060049"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010628","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health"},{"name":"National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health","award":["T32CA128582"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T32CA128582"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Am J Health Promot"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study examined perceptions of a proposed US menthol cigarette ban among adults who smoke menthol cigarettes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Focus group discussions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Virtual focus groups with 7-9 participants each.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>50 US adults (age 21+) who currently smoke menthol cigarettes participated in six focus groups: two with Black participants; two lesbian, gay, or bisexual participants; and two general population groups.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Each 90-minute session was audio-recorded and transcribed. We used qualitative thematic analyses to examine participants\u2019 views on reasons for the ban and its potential impact on tobacco use, with a focus on differences across the three identity-based groups.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Many participants, across all group types, believed the ban aimed to protect youth and future generations due to menthol\u2019s appeal and higher addictiveness. Some viewed the ban as government overreach, racially targeted, and economically or politically motivated. Several indicated they would seek menthol cigarettes through illicit markets that might emerge post-ban. Some considered switching to non-menthol cigarettes, vapes, or marijuana. However, several felt the ban could help them reduce smoking and quit entirely, citing non-menthol cigarettes\u2019 lower appeal and concerns about vaping\u2019s addictiveness and harms. Black participants expressed specific concerns about over-policing, racial profiling, community safety, and potential increases in crime related to menthol access.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Concerns about over-policing and targeted enforcement align with tobacco industry narratives, illustrating the pervasiveness of negative industry messaging. Findings underscore the importance of proactive communication about the ban\u2019s public health goals, while addressing community concerns about policing and racial equity.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/08901171251388871","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T11:45:12Z","timestamp":1760701512000},"page":"488-495","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Perceptions of a Menthol Cigarette Ban: Focus Group Study With US Adults who Smoke Menthol Cigarettes"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"40","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8688-1985","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mayank","family":"Sakhuja","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health"},{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shayna","family":"Farris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rhyan N.","family":"Vereen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer Mendel","family":"Sheldon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chisom","family":"Ojukwu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emmanuel","family":"Saint-Phard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah D.","family":"Mills","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health"},{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carrie","family":"Rosario","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of North Carolina at Greensboro"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kurt M.","family":"Ribisl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health"},{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Allison J.","family":"Lazard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"},{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paschal","family":"Sheeran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Noel T.","family":"Brewer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health"},{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marissa G.","family":"Hall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health"},{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"},{"name":"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_5_2_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tc.2010.041988"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_3_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-017-4987-z"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_4_2","unstructured":"Truth Initiative. Menthol: facts stats and regulations. https:\/\/truthinitiative.org\/research-resources\/traditional-tobacco-products\/menthol-facts-stats-and-regulations. Accessed 28 January 2025."},{"key":"e_1_3_5_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2013-051385"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_6_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2016-053329"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_7_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntaa152"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_8_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntac214"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_9_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntae011"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_10_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2018.06.011"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_11_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2022.10029"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_12_2","unstructured":"Public Health Law Center. FDA menthol timeline. https:\/\/www.publichealthlawcenter.org\/resources\/fda-menthol-timeline. Accessed 20 March 2025."},{"key":"e_1_3_5_13_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2022.109293"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_14_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntad141"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_15_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_16_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_17_2","volume-title":"Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook","author":"Miles MB","year":"1994","unstructured":"Miles MB, Huberman AM. Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. London: Sage; 1994."},{"key":"e_1_3_5_18_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0033354920966004"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_19_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntaa164"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_20_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntac290"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_21_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14622200310001649478"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_22_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09581596.2018.1478066"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_23_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.18332\/tid\/142932"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_24_2","unstructured":"Plescia M. From the chief medical officer: how state health officials can make a stand against menthol. 2023. https:\/\/www.astho.org\/communications\/blog\/how-state-health-officials-can-make-a-stand-against-menthol\/"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_25_2","volume-title":"Pastor Offered $250,000 to Oppose Menthol Cigarette Ban","author":"Stockton B","year":"2022","unstructured":"Stockton B. Pastor Offered $250,000 to Oppose Menthol Cigarette Ban. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism; 2022. https:\/\/www.thebureauinvestigates.com\/stories\/2022-08-25\/pastor-offered-250-000-to-oppose-menthol-cigarette-ban\/. Accessed 22 January 2025."},{"key":"e_1_3_5_26_2","unstructured":"Truth Initiative. Tobacco industry has fueled false claims that eliminating menthol cigarettes will put black Americans at greater risk from law enforcement. https:\/\/truthinitiative.org\/research-resources\/targeted-communities\/tobacco-industry-has-fueled-false-claims-eliminating. Accessed 22 January 2025."},{"key":"e_1_3_5_27_2","unstructured":"NORC. Building a community engagement panel to study the impact of the FDA's menthol ban on black\/latinx communities. https:\/\/www.norc.org\/research\/projects\/exploring-the-menthol-ban-narrative-on-social-media.html. Accessed 22 January 2025."},{"key":"e_1_3_5_28_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1360-0443.2012.03822.x"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_29_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntac078"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_30_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0033354919841011"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_31_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2018-054552"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_32_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntx048"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_33_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tc-2022-057439"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_34_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2020.108390"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_35_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.2012.300804"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_3_5_36_2","first-page":"341","article-title":"Ban on menthol-flavoured tobacco products predicts cigarette cessation at 1 year: a population cohort study","volume":"29","author":"Chaiton MO","year":"2020","unstructured":"Chaiton MO, Nicolau I, Schwartz R, et al. Ban on menthol-flavoured tobacco products predicts cigarette cessation at 1 year: a population cohort study. Tob Control. 2020;29(3):341-347.","journal-title":"Tob Control"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_37_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2020-056259"},{"key":"e_1_3_5_38_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamainternmed.2022.6743"}],"container-title":["American Journal of Health Promotion"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/08901171251388871","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/08901171251388871","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/08901171251388871","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T09:03:55Z","timestamp":1777367035000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/08901171251388871"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/08901171251388871"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/08901171251388871","relation":{},"ISSN":["0890-1171","2168-6602"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0890-1171","type":"print"},{"value":"2168-6602","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]]}}}