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Data & Statistics About Tobacco in Michigan

Commercial tobacco use continues to be the largest contributor to preventable deaths in Michigan, despite a steady decline in usage since the new millennium.

With the availability and widespread popularity of electronic cigarettes and portable vaporizer devices increasing, it has become very important for public health professionals and policymakers to continue to work together to address this new form of tobacco-related product.

As we continually learn more about the dangerous health effects of tobacco and tobacco-related products, it is critical that public health professionals seek opportunities to educate the public, policymakers and stakeholders within the healthcare sector about these dangers.

Through education and outreach, the Michigan Tobacco Control Program continues to move closer towards a commercial tobacco-free state.

If you have questions about any of the data or charts on this page, please contact either Farid Shamo at ShamoF@michigan.gov or Sean Bennett at BennettS11@michigan.gov.

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  • Check the facts about commercial tobacco use in Michigan: Toll of Tobacco in Michigan (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

  • Causes of preventable death. See the fact sheet: Michigan Commercial Tobacco Use Fact SheetPDF icon  (revised February 2023)

  • Youth commercial tobacco use (both in the state of Michigan and the country as a whole) had been on a decline for many years until 2013.

    However, since the beginning of the use of e-cigarettes and portable vaporizer devices, commercial tobacco usage among youth and young adults has increased.

    Because e-cigarettes and portable vaporizer devices are so relatively new, policies to limit their usage have been slow in development. In addition, aggressive marketing campaigns and flavored products geared towards a younger market have created a new generation of commercial tobacco users.

    Michigan currently has a higher youth commercial tobacco usage rate than the rest of the country.

  • The state of Michigan has higher adult commercial tobacco use rate than the rest of the country. Although both rates have declined in recent years, the rapid rise of e-cigarettes and portable vaporizers have flooded the market and introduced commercial tobacco products to a new generation of smokers.

  • The state of Michigan's prenatal smoking rate is double the national average. Despite efforts to educate and inform healthcare providers of the risk associated with prenatal smoking, there has been little decline in its frequency among expectant parents.

  • Commercial tobacco use is a universal health issue that affects individuals of all ages, races, and income levels.

    However, we know that several populations are disproportionately impacted by commercial tobacco use and display higher rates of commercial tobacco usage than other populations of a larger size.

    To better understand how these various populations are impacted, the Tobacco Section has undertaken several efforts to learn more about these communities and why they experience unequal impacts of commercial tobacco usage.


    Tobacco usage among people living with HIV (PLWH) is more than double the state average (49.5 percent vs. 18.9 percent).

    In order to improve the quality of life for PLWH, the MDHHS Tobacco Section created the Tobacco Use Reduction Program (TURP) for people living with HIV. By partnering with several AIDS service organizations (ASOs), the program seeks to increase assessment, referral and treatment of commercial tobacco dependence amongst PLWH who are Ryan White eligible.

    • For more information on the project, as well as supporting data, please refer to the Evaluation Studies section below.
  • Would you like to learn more about the people who phone the Michigan Tobacco Quitlink?

    Twice a year, we compile Quitlink Call Reports that analyze Quitlink users by topic, county of residence, gender, race/ethnicity, mental health status, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, and other demographic variables.

  • Below, you will find the results of several studies, surveys and projects conducted by the MDHHS Tobacco Section.
     

    Air Quality in Michigan Restaurants & Casinos Before and After a Statewide Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law


    Racial Disparities in Michigan Asthma Hospitalizations Following the Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law: A Longitudinal Cohort Study


    The Impact of the Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law on Lung Carcinogen in Michigan


    Tobacco Use Reduction Program (TURP) for People Living with HIV Program Results and Evaluation Activities

    Check out the results of ASO staff surveys, client surveys, and focus group results 2015 - 2019:

    • BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System): This survey is for adults only, and data is collected annually:  Michigan BRFS Annual Reports
       
    • MiPHY (Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth): This survey is for school profiles in counties that participate in this system. It covers middle and high school students, and it is administered on school years:  Michigan School Health Survey System
       
    • YRBS (Youth Risk Behavioral Survey): This survey is for middle and high school students for the national and state rates. It is administrated every other year:  Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
       
    • Vital Statistics: These are statistics from the birth certificates with information on mothers' smoking status:  Community Health Information
       
    • NYTS (National Youth Tobacco Survey): This is an annual survey administered by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for middle and high school students; data are available at the national level only:  National Youth Tobacco Survey