More people are trying to kick the habit as taxes on cigarettes continue to rise. On April 1 the federal tax on a pack of smokes jumped 62 cents. Michael Fiore. Director of the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, calls to the state's tobacco quit line doubled in the month leading up to the tax hike. Fiore does not have the numbers for after the tax increase but anticipates it will be as equally busy if not busier.
Fiore expects a similar jump if Governor Doyle's proposed 75 cent-per-pack tax increase passes in the state budget. He says many smokers want to quit and the tax increases give them the motivation to take the next step.
The tobacco quit line is a free service open to Wisconsinites who want to give up smoking or chewing tobacco. 1-800-quit-now.
Contributed by Rick Schuh-WHBY
