American Lung Association's State of Tobacco Control Report Finds Michigan Failing in Efforts to Save Lives

DETROIT, MI (02/03/2016)(readMedia)-- Today, the American Lung Association released its 14th annual "State of Tobacco Control" report that finds that in 2015 Michigan failed to enact tobacco control policies that will save lives.

The report also finds Michigan is not alone, as most states and the federal government earned poor grades. And the high level of youth use of tobacco products other than cigarettes threatens to undermine the United States' overall progress in the fight against tobacco-caused death and disease.

"Michigan is missing a clear opportunity to save lives by not taking action to prevent and reduce tobacco use. We must also face the reality that youth use of other tobacco products nationwide like e-cigarettes and little cigars is at an all-time high," said Shelly Kiser, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Michigan. "Nearly a quarter of high school students are using tobacco products, and it is crucial that Michigan take aggressive action to reduce all tobacco use – the #1 cause of preventable death and disease in our nation."

The "State of Tobacco Control" report evaluates tobacco control policies at the state and federal level and assigns grades based on whether laws protect citizens from the enormous toll tobacco use takes on lives.

Michigan's failing grades from "State of Tobacco Control 2016" show that urgent action is needed by our Governor and State Legislature to pass proven policies that will reduce tobacco use and save lives:

• Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Funding – Grade F

• Tobacco Taxes - Grade F

• Smokefree Air - Grade B

• Access to Cessation Services - Grade F

The American Lung Association in Michigan calls on Michigan lawmakers to act on the following science-based tobacco policy priorities that will reduce tobacco use among Michigan residents:

• Increase the cigarette tax by $1.50;

• Increase the Other Tobacco Products Tax, which covers non-cigarette forms of tobacco like cigars, spit tobacco and hookah, to match the cigarette tax; and,

• Increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs to $30 million.

The federal government earned an "F" for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulation of Tobacco Products, a "C" for Federal Cessation Coverage, an "F" for Tobacco Taxes and a "B" for its Mass Media Campaigns, a new grading area in this year's "State of Tobacco Control" report.

"It's not a secret how we can reduce tobacco use in this country. 'State of Tobacco Control 2016' looks at proven methods to save lives and prevent our children from becoming the next generation hooked on tobacco," said Kiser. "We must demand that our elected officials in Michigan urgently act to implement these proven policies to save lives."

The full State of Tobacco Control report can be found at www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org.

For media interested in speaking with an expert about the "State of Tobacco Control" report, lung health, tobacco use and tobacco control policies, contact the American Lung Association at shelly.kiser@lung.org or 740-739-0187.