Tobacco use, the leading preventable chronic disease risk factor, (an estimated 124 Marquette County residents died in 1997 as a result of long-term tobacco use) is targeted through several initiatives including:

Education at Schools - A major anti-tobacco advertising project was conducted, and over $10,000 in free advertising was obtained by area students participating in the Truth in Tobacco Advertising Project, highlighting the reality of tobacco use.

Michigan Prevention Network - Michigan's largest prevention coalition awarded the Tobacco-Free Community Coalition for the work declaring the Truth in Tobacco Advertising project a Model Project for other coalitions in the state to emulate.

Community Programs - Over 1,000 students took part in the Smoke-Free Class of 2000 math test. About 150 smoke-free businesses were added to our workplace honor roll.

Time to Quit - A stop smoking, self-help program designed to give Marquette County residents tobacco cessation information.

Tobacco Blues - The Tobacco Blues program is a tobacco education program geared for youth ages 10-18 years old. Tobacco Blues emphasizes the realities of tobacco use and in several demonstrations views the effect of tobacco use on the body. Tobacco advertising and recruitment strategies as well as laws governing tobacco are covered. The program is free. Teens may refer themselves into the program or may be referred by an outside agency. The program is conducted by a trained tobacco education and control educator.

Tobacco-Free Community Coalition - Working toward the goal of reducing smoking prevalence to 15% by the year 2000. This group provides tobacco educational programs and cessation materials for adults and youth (Tobacco Blues). When possible the coalition integrates tobacco prevention programming into youth programs and activities. Opportunities are available for Coalition members to integrate community education projects into the private sector such as worksites and health care settings.

Other Activities - Smoking cessation, tobacco control policies, limited access to youth, education, and media interventions. We also directed the activities of 12 region-wide coalitions as part of the federally funded American Stop Smoking Intervention Study (ASSIST).

For more information about these programs, please contact:

Sarah Derwin
Health Educator - Tobacco Coordinator
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Marquette County Health Department
184 US Highway 41 East
Negaunee, Michigan 49866
(906) 315-2621 (phone)
(906) 475-9312 (fax)