By Carla E. Kinder
Marquette, MI – A new report by the American Lung Association gave Michigan low marks in tobacco prevention spending, smoke-free policies, and youth access to tobacco. It's estimated that 14,000 Michigan residents die each year due to tobacco use, and an additional 2,000 die from exposure to secondhand smoke. The state only spends $3.6 million on tobacco prevention, although $1.6 billion in revenues from tobacco taxes and settlements is collected. Marquette County Health Department Director Randall Johnson says the percentage of adult smokers in the county has gone from 25% to 15% since 1997.
For more information visit www.smokefreeup.org.