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