Higher Cost A Deterrent To Smoking

Connecticut's decision to hike the state cigarette tax to $3 per pack was a no-brainer. The new rate, effective on Oct. 1, will raise millions in urgently needed state revenue, will convince more people to quit smoking and will slash health care costs associated with smoking-related illnesses.
One of the greatest benefits is that more teenagers will not take up the dirty habit in the first place. The national Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that Connecticut's $1-per-pack tax increase will deter 24,000 youths from becoming addicted smokers, and will convince 10,000 adults to quit. The group also projects $520 million in health care savings. These are significant numbers.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Connecticut, claiming 4,700 lives each year and costing the state $1.63 billion annually in health care bills, the group says.
State officials estimate the higher tax will bring in nearly an extra $100 million in revenue this fiscal year, money desperately needed to support essential services.
Now that Connecticut has shown leadership by boosting the cigarette tax rate, it ought to take the next logical step and devote more dollars to smoking cessation programs. Nicotine is one of the toughest addictions to overcome, but with help smokers can kick the deadly habit.
Connecticut for years has allocated a pittance to smoking prevention and cessation efforts. Currently, the state spends less than 2 percent of $447 million in tobacco-generated revenue for these programs, far below what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.
Connecticut can do better. Lawmakers who saw the wisdom of raising taxes on cigarettes ought to demand that some of that new revenue be used to support effective smoking cessation programs.