ANN ARBOR— The state of Michigan will ban smoking in workplaces (including bars and restaurants) on May 1, 2010. Policy and public health advisers from the University of Michigan are available to comment on the new law.

Officially named the Dr. Ron Davis Smoke Free Air Law, it honors the late Ronald M. Davis, who was a member of the U-M School of Public Health faculty, an American Medical Association past president, and a longtime advocate for smoke-free air and healthy lifestyles.

U-M experts who can comment on health care policies include:

Jim Bergman, an associate member of the U-M Tobacco Research Network and director of the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project at the Center for Social Gerontology, which advocated for passage of Michigan?s smoke-free law and is dedicated to redressing and mitigating the harm to older persons caused by tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. He can be contacted at (734) 665-1126 or [email protected]

Clifford Douglas, adjunct lecturer in Health Management and Policy at the U-M School of Public Health, director of the U-M Tobacco Research Network, and a consultant on tobacco control policy to the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health. He focuses on policies related to smoking in workplaces and public places and on regulation of tobacco products and their marketing, and testified before the Michigan legislature in support of the new smoke-free law. He can be reached at (734) 936-0939 or [email protected].

Peter Jacobson, professor in health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health and directs the Center for Law and Ethics and Health. His expertise focuses on the relationship between law and health care delivery and policy, tobacco control policy, the study of health care safety net providers, and public health systems. He can be contacted at (734) 936-0928 or [email protected].

Lloyd Johnston, a distinguished senior research scientist at the U-M?s Institute for Social Research. He has overseen the national research studies: Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of the Lifestyles and Values of American Youth, an epidemiological study that reports current levels and trends in the use of a wide range of substances, from cigarettes and alcohol to marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and many other illicit drugs. He can be reached at (734) 763-5043 or [email protected].

Kenneth Warner, dean and a professor of Health Management and Policy at the U-M School of Public Health. His research and policy work focuses on economic and policy aspects of disease prevention and health promotion, with a special emphasis on tobacco and health. He testified before the Michigan legislature in support of smoke-free workplaces. He chairs the U-M campus initiative to go smoke-free by July 2011. He can be reached at (734) 763-5454 or [email protected].

Background informationMore sources from U-M Health System