JANS – No Menthol Sunday was observed May 21, 2023, at Calvary M.B. Church in Renova, MS. Sponsored by the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health, No Menthol Sunday is designed to raise the consciousness among the faith community regarding health disparities associated with tobacco use.
During worship services, Rev. Johnnie E. Cummings, III, spoke to Calvary members about tobacco’s negative impact on the health of African Americans. Calvary’s No Menthol Sunday activities educated parishioners about smoking, vaping, and the dangers of menthol tobacco.
No Menthol Sunday is a national observance led by The Center for Black Health and Equity. It is implemented statewide via the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health. No Menthol Sunday provides the information and tools needed to help individuals stand against the tobacco industry and create healthy, tobacco-free communities. Institute staff distributed tobacco cessation products, promotional items, and wellness resources to congregations throughout in the Mississippi Delta and in Central Mississippi.
According to the Truth Initiative, African Americans have higher rates of death from tobacco-related diseases and are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke. Nearly 90% of all African American smokers use menthol cigarettes, and more than 39,000 African Americans die from tobacco-related cancers each year.
The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health implements culturally specific tobacco cessation programs. These community-based programs address tobacco inequities in Mississippi. For more information, contact Trakendria Barnes at (769) 572-5263 or via email at tbarnes@advancingminorityhealth.org.
