Menthol cigarettes have been called the mint that kills.

There's already been a push at the state and federal levels to ban them. The state proposal was rejected and the federal ban has been indefinitely postponed.

Menthol is a chemical found naturally in peppermint, spearmint and other similar plants, but it can also be made in a lab. It's used in many ways and added to many products like syrups, creams, perfume, nasal sprays, candy and much more.

Menthol cigarettes taste and smell can hide early warnings and symptoms of respiratory problems from smoking. Because menthol masks the bitter harshness of cigarette smoke, people who smoke menthol cigarettes often smoke more and inhale more deeply, which means higher amounts of toxic chemicals and tar over time.

Recently, the New York State Quitline expanded its resources to include those just for menthol smokers. Breanna Fuss spoke with Dr. Andrew Hyland about this. He's the director of the Quitline.

They discussed why the Quitline created a space specific to helping people quit smoking menthol cigarettes and why it's more difficult for people to put down menthol products.

For more information and resources, check out the NYS Quitline website.