Author: Abigail Lynch

Tobacco Prevention and Control

Smoking tobacco increases the risk for chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and stroke. It is the leading cause of preventable death. Not smoking, or quitting smoking (for current smokers) can greatly reduce the risk for developing diseases like this, and can prolong life. Tobacco prevention is important in creating healthy communities. New tobacco and nicotine products are emerging constantly, making tobacco prevention more important than ever.

Key Positions
Health Educators

Smoking-related health problems cost Michigan more than $4.5 billion per year.

Meets Public Health Standards:

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
ü	Public Health Accreditation Board

Services:
Local health departments that participate in tobacco prevention conduct tobacco compliance checks, vendor education, and general outreach regarding cessation resources. Additionally, many local health departments partner with local coalitions that focus on tobacco reduction or substance abuse. These partnerships help to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco products in the community and enable the community members to educate themselves so they can take action for tobacco prevention and cessation.
Goals:
Local health promotion, prevention, and education activities centered on tobacco prevention are meant to:
Prevent adverse health outcomes associated with long term tobacco or nicotine product use
Create awareness in the community about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine addiction
Prevent youth from using tobacco and nicotine products

Impact:
Over 1,500 calls were placed to the Michigan Tobacco Quit Line between October 1st, 2016 and March 31st, 2017.

Created by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for the Michigan Association of Local Public Health with funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. August 2018.
*39 of Michigan’s local health departments indicated that they offer tobacco prevention services (of 41 who participated in the survey). Participants might not have answered each question.