Karianne Lesperance – Letter to Editor

On behalf of the Healthy Youth Coalition (HYC) and Communities that Care (CTC) of Marinette & Menominee Counties, our staff and members would like to thank all the agencies in the Marinette and Menominee Counties area who participated in this year’s tobacco compliance checks. SYNAR Compliance Checks took place in Delta and Menominee Counties in May and June of 2022. SYNAR is a State Compliance check that provides education and ensures that tobacco retailers do not sell tobacco products to minors under the age of 21. The State of Michigan randomized draw selected Jay’s Tobacco in Menominee for the check, and we want to congratulate and recognize Jay’s Tobacco for not selling to minors and passing the check. Public Health Delta and Menominee Counties partnered with our coalitions in the SYNAR education earlier this spring, as well as the compliance check, and we thank them for their continued involvement on the Menominee side on this effort. We want to also acknowledge Marinette County Public Health and the Marinette County Sheriff’s Department who conducted their annual Wisconsin WINS tobacco compliance checks throughout Marinette County this summer. These compliance checks are also an evidence-based initiative to ensure local retailers comply with the law by not selling tobacco and nicotine products to minors. As a result of this effort, 94.5% of Marinette County’s retailers chose not to sell tobacco products to minors. A complete list of all stores in Marinette County who passed can be found by contacting Public Health Officer Molly Bonjean at 715-732-7670.
Our coalitions aim to reduce and prevent youth substance use of initiation drugs, such as tobacco products. According to our local data, tobacco product use (including vaping) is one of the top two drugs of choice among our area youth, and reducing access to these products dramatically reduces youth use. Preventing youth substance use can decrease substance use disorders and addiction later in life, and we want to thank those agencies for playing an important role in protecting the children of our community.
Karianne Lesperance
Executive Director of Prevention Services