Tobacco 21
The KnowSmoke Coalition and 1 in 21 are collaboratively working together to further reduce smoking rates and promote a smoke-free generation. Raising the minimum age of legal access to tobacco products to 21 years of age will help reduce smoking rates. Nearly 200 jurisdictions in 14 states have already raised the minimum age of legal access to tobacco products.
In Muskegon County, adolescent smoking rates have been declining. However, adolescent use of e-cigarettes has increased, according to the CDC, over 900% nationwide from 2011 to 2015. In Muskegon County, according to the 2015-2016 Michigan Profile for a Health Youth (MIPHY), 17.5% of youth are using electronic vapor products, which is 10% higher than traditional cigarette use.
Adolescents are more likely to obtain cigarettes from social sources than through commercial transactions, and youth who reported receiving offers of cigarettes from friends were more likely to initiate smoking and progress to experimentation. As a result, raising the tobacco sales age to 21 has been shown to reduce high school smoking by over 50% and will reduce access from social sources.
As a community, we have worked hard to move the needle in the right direction, but our work is not yet done. We will not stop until Muskegon is the healthiest county by the year 2021. To support the Tobacco 21 Resolution of Support, please download and sign the attached resolution and send to:
- KnowSmoke Coalition, 565 W. Western Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
- Fax to 231-672-8404
- Or email: powerscl@mercyhealth.com.
Sign the Tobacco 21 Resolution here.
Increase of Tobacco-Buying Age to 21 Proposed to County Commissioners