The tobacco industry has traditionally targeted Blacks and Hispanics with menthol and other flavored tobacco products. So Rutgers is studying a group of young Blacks and Hispanics to learn how they respond to ads for and use cigarillos, such as Swisher Sweets, Black & Mild, White Owl and Dutch Masters.
“When research is done on many tobacco products these are two groups that are underrepresented in the studies,” said Professor Kymberle Sterling, “and the tobacco studies that are currently going on, these are studies that are being used to inform policies at the federal level,” she continued, saying it’s time to focus on young minority groups, and get these products off the shelves.
“The one that we are most hopeful for is a complete ban on menthol cigarettes and also on flavored cigars like White Owls and Dutch Masters,” she said. “Ideally that is best case scenario and that is best case scenario if it happens at the federal level,” said Sterling.
“Whatever we learn from our young adults as it relates to their thoughts or their beliefs about these products, we’re hoping that we can take that information to create health communication messaging or campaigns to spread the word,” said Sterling.
She said vaping gets a lot of study, but not cigarillos — which can cost as little as 99 cents and are easily available in minority communities.
Studies have shown that cigarillo use is higher among Black and Hispanic youth than among young whites.
For more information or to participate in the study, visit unvarnishedproject.org.