Community Activities
These are the most effective means to enact tobacco control in local communities:
- Eliminate Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
In 1954 the American Cancer Society's
research program found secondhand smoke to cause cancer in nonsmoking persons. In 1991,
the federal government reached the same conclusion through the EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency). The EPA has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen. This
classification currently contains only 15 substances which are all known to cause cancer
in humans. Tobacco Smoke, Asbestos and Radon are Group A carcinogens. Efforts to promote
smokefree schools, businesses, restaurants and public places, will help reduce involuntary
exposure to tobacco smoke.
- Eliminate Tobacco Advertising and Promotion The Tobacco Industry claims that
promotion of tobacco products is to encourage current smokers to switch brands. However,
the January 1991 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association found that children
were being influenced to initiate smoking by tobacco industry promotions. The saturations
of tobacco messages are devastating to urban areas where the concentration of tobacco ads
on; billboards, buses, and stores give children the wrong impression that "most
people smoke. In a survey of tobacco billboards in Ingham County, 90% were located in
Lansing. The Lansing City Council passed an ordinance banning tobacco billboards effective
January 1, 1998. No advertising is permitted on bus transportation.
- Reduce Access/Availability of Tobacco Tobacco possession by people under the age
of 18 has been illegal since 1912. However, enforcement has not been a priority in most
communities. If a person does not begin to smoke by age 20 they probably will never begin
(90% of the time). Tobacco is available 100% of the time to children through vending
machines. When children start smoking at a young age, their addiction is more intense as
adults; they smoke more cigarettes, they quit at a much lower rate and die much earlier,
primarily from tobacco related deaths. NOTE: Ingham County has proven that a local tobacco
retailer license will reduce sales to children. In the last three years, successful sale
to kids has gone from 78% to less than 16%.
- Media Coverage of Tobacco Control Themes Public perception and peer pressure is
created by the images that we see in the media. The media defines what people consider to
be "norms". Media coverage of tobacco prevention themes and exposure of tobacco
industry tactics provide a better understanding of prevention policy. We believe this
knowledge will encourage public understanding, interest, and action. Media coverage of
tobacco control themes can become more accurate with increased public education.
- Increase Tobacco Prices In every instance where tobacco taxes have been increased
there have been two consistent results. First, the total tobacco tax revenues increase.
Second, for every 1% tax hike, 4% of smokers quit. Though taxation is an unpopular
concept, it is the only action that will consistently decrease deaths caused by cancer.
NOTE: This objective was successfully accomplished in 1996 when Proposal A passed in
Michigan by popular vote. Michigan increased the state tobacco tax by 50 cents, making the
total tobacco tax in Michigan, 94 cents per pack.
Go Back To:
Health Promotion Page
Ingham
County website or the
Health Dept webpage