DETROIT – Michigan is listed as one of the states with the worst policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, according to the American Lung Association’s 21st annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today. The state earned mostly failing grades on this year’s report.
The “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. This is critical, as tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and
disease in America and takes the lives of 16,170 Michigan residents each year.
“Michigan lags behind when it comes to tobacco control policies, and as a result, we have higher than average adult smoking rates at 17% and 23% of high school students use a tobacco product,” said Ken Fletcher, Advocacy Director at the Lung Association in Michigan. “This gives us an important opportunity to improve the health of our state through proven policies, such as such as increasing tobacco taxes, ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products and increasing funding for tobacco cessation and prevention programs.”
Michigan’s Grades
The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2023 report, Michigan received the following grades:
1.
Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F
2.
Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade
F
3.
Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade
C
4.
Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade D
5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F
This year’s report noted the need for Michigan policymakers to focus on passing a law to license all tobacco retailers, including e-cigarette retailers; and prohibiting flavorings, including mint and menthol, for
all tobacco products.
According to the 2022
National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 2.5 million high school
and middle school students use e-cigarettes, and more 85% of those kids use
flavored e-cigarettes. In addition, menthol
cigarettes continue to be the major cause of tobacco-related death and
disease in Black communities, with over 80% of Black Americans who smoke using
them. Ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, will not
only help end youth vaping, but will also help address the disproportionate
impact of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars have on many communities,
including Black Americans, LGBTQ+ Americans and youth.
To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and take action, visit Lung.org/sotc.
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About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org
