Michigan failed on more than half of the criteria on a recent report card from the American Lung Association.
The association gave Michigan three F’s, a D, and a B in its most recent tobacco report. The sole B was received for indoor clean air laws, that ban smoking in workplaces and restaurants.
Ken Fletcher is Director of Advocacy for Michigan for the American Lung Association. He said the state is graded on a number of criteria.
“How much does the state spend on tobacco prevention and control programming, whether or not we have clean indoor air laws, whether or not we have adequate tobacco taxes which will discourage people from smoking, whether or not individuals have access to tobacco cessation services, and then what’s the minimum age that folks can buy tobacco products.”
Fletcher said the Centers for Disease Control recommends Michigan spend 110-million dollars a year on tobacco prevention. Currently, Michigan spends under five million.
He said tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness in the country, so reducing the use of tobacco could do a lot in terms of keeping people healthy.