Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Release Date:  Immediate Release                    Kill Date:  March 28, 2008 Contact Person:  Ann Goldon                             Phone:  (810) 341-5898

RE:  Local Students Fight For Michigan ’s Grades on the Annual Tobacco Report Card  

High School students at Genesee and Lake Fenton High Schools will be presenting tobacco information to middle school students in their districts as part of the 2007-2008 school year “Fight the Light, Fight for Life — Stop Tobacco Use” campaign supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) funding, in partnership with the American Lung Association of Michigan and Tobacco Free Michigan.

“We are taking specific steps to help improve Michigan ’s grades on the annual Tobacco Report Card,” said Genesee Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) student Kayla Bright.  She was referring to the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control 2007 report, released January 10, 2008.  The report grades all states plus the federal government in four categories: smoke-free air, tobacco taxes, prevention funding and restrictions on youth access to tobacco products.  Michigan failed in three out of the four categories.

In October 2007, high school students in Genesee and Lake Fenton schools were surveyed about their tobacco use. The survey revealed some alarming information showing high rates of secondhand smoke exposure in the home, indicating that 58% of Lake Fenton High School students and 76% of Genesee High School students are exposed in their homes. Twelve percent of the students surveyed at Lake Fenton and 13% at Genesee said that secondhand smoke is probably or definitely not harmful to them. The survey also showed that 18% of Lake Fenton and 20% of Genesee students are using forms of tobacco other than cigarettes, including cigars, chewing tobacco, bidis and hookah pipes. 

For more information please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 810-257-3612.

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