Cigarette Smoking and the Role of Menthol in Tobacco Use Inequalities for Sexual Minorities.

Using data from a nationally representative study, this study makes a unique contribution to literature by identifying differences in menthol smoking between sexual minority subgroups. Specifically, we found that menthol smoking was highest among sexual minority females (ie, lesbian/gay and bisexual females) compared with other sexual minorities. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to prevent menthol cigarette initiation among sexual minorities, as well as to promote smoking cessation among sexual minorities who smoke menthol cigarettes, with an emphasis on sexual minority females. Future research should examine the impact of a potential menthol ban on these inequalities.