Michigan ranks 45th in protecting children from tobacco, nonprofit report says

WASHINGTON – Michigan ranks 45th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released Friday.

The report was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights and the Truth Initiative.

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The report spotlights the need for stronger tobacco prevention efforts in Michigan and claims tobacco companies spend more than $320 million a year to advertise in Michigan alone, about 200 times more what the state spends on prevention.

"Michigan is putting kids' health at risk and burdening taxpayers with higher tobacco-related health care costs by continuing to shortchange tobacco prevention programs," said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We've made great strides in reducing smoking rates, but we cannot let our guard down, as tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and e-cigarettes threaten to addict another generation."

States with well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention programs have seen remarkable progress. Florida, which has one of the longest-running programs, has reduced its high school smoking rate to 3.6 percent, one of the lowest rates ever reported by any state.

The full report can be read here.