Michigan teen tobacco use ticks up as prevention funding lags

May 11, 2026

Teen tobacco use in Michigan has increased to 16. 5% among high school students in 2023, up from 14% in 2021, with e-cigarettes being the most popular form, particularly among female students at 19%. The state currently spends less than 5% of federally recommended levels on tobacco prevention programs, allocating only $7.

Who is affected

Michigan high school students, particularly females (19% using e-cigarettes)
High school students across grade levels (8th, 10th, and 12th graders)
Specific student Arianna Banford, 18, senior at Osborn High School
Michigan public school districts (nearly 90%)
Michigan retailers (499 received FDA warning letters in 2025, 231 were fined)
Medicaid beneficiaries
K-12 schools receiving School Aid Fund money
Future generations at risk of tobacco-related preventable deaths

What action is being taken

The state health department operates a youth tobacco prevention program with $7.5 million in funding
Youth cessation programs like My Life My Quit are running
Outreach efforts aimed at reducing tobacco use among young people are ongoing
Nearly 90% of Michigan public school districts have "category four" tobacco prohibition policies in place
The state conducts annual random, unannounced compliance inspections of retailers
The US Food and Drug Administration is conducting underage compliance checks

Why it matters

This issue is significant because tobacco use remains the largest contributor to preventable death in Michigan and the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Nicotine addiction during adolescence is particularly concerning because it interferes with natural brain development and can lead to lifelong dependence, with some newer products containing the equivalent of 200 cigarettes worth of nicotine. The rising trend reverses years of declining youth tobacco use, threatening a new generation with long-term health problems. Michigan's severely underfunded prevention efforts—spending less than 15% of CDC-recommended levels—leave young people vulnerable to aggressive marketing tactics, including flavored products designed to appeal to youth, while easy retail access due to lack of licensing requirements makes it simpler for teens to obtain these products.

What's next

Governor Whitmer has proposed a budget that would increase prevention spending by $8.9 million to $16 million through creating a new 57% wholesale tax on e-cigarettes and alternative nicotine products
Whitmer is proposing to raise the cigarette tax from $2 to $3 per pack
However, neither House nor Senate lawmakers have included these new taxes in their separately approved state budget bills, and House Speaker Matt Hall has stated "There will be no tax increases in this budget when we do this deal"

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com