Tax hike gives smokers a new reason to quit
By KRISTIN BUEHNER, Of The Globe Gazette
MASON CITY — The $1 a pack hike in the cigarette tax is convincing many North Iowans that now is the time to quit smoking.
The tax increase, signed into law March 15 by Gov. Chet Culver, took effect Friday.
“I ran out of cigarettes Friday morning and haven’t bought a pack since,” said 40-year-old Jeff Lentz of Plymouth. “I was ready anyway, but the cigarette tax kind of put the final straw on it.”
A smoker since the age of 18, Lentz smoked a pack a day. And, at a reported $5.85 for a generic brand of smokes, that’s a pretty expensive habit.
“People who are going to smoke are going to smoke anyway,” Lentz said. “Those who are going to quit, this is the thing that’s going to take ’em out.”
Lentz, who is quitting cold turkey, said “it’s all mind-set.”
“The worst time is usually in the morning and I just keep moving.”
Since the tax went into effect, more than 150 smokers have contacted Quitline Iowa, up from 70 during the same period a year ago, according to figures provided by the cessation program.
Pam Erickson, a tobacco specialist with the Smoke-Free Families program of North Iowa Community Action Organization, said her office has been fielding a lot more calls since the new tax went into effect.
“We’ve had a huge influx of calls, tons of questions about how to enroll in the program,” Erickson said. “People are calling and saying, ‘I can’t afford to smoke any more. I really need help to stop.’ ”
Carla Miller, coordinator of Smoke-Free Families, said interest in Smoke-Free Families was running high Monday at the Community Action’s Womens, Infants and Children (WIC) Clinic in Clear Lake.
“Everybody we talked to today has concerns about the tobacco tax,” said Miller. “I’m hoping this inspires them to quit to improve their health, as well as the health of those around them.”
A spokeswoman for Mercy Family Health Line said she received three calls Friday, the day the tax increased, about quitting smoking.
“They were wondering about the withdrawal effects, how long does it take and some options for treatment.”
Mason City pharmacist Ryan Corell, manager of Mercy Family Pharmacy-Regency, said prescriptions for medications to help quit smoking are definitely “on the upswing” right now.
“One medication, Chantix, is fairly new,” he said. “It’s really picked up since the first of the year. It’s been pretty promising. People have had pretty good results.”
The medication, which is not a nicotine replacement, makes the body feel like it’s smoking, Corell said. “We’re selling four to five prescriptions a day.”
Other medications available to help quit smoking are Zyban, the nicotine patch and nicotine gum.
Teri Elsbury, health promotions coordinator for the American Cancer Society in Mason City, said she believes some smokers probably stocked up on cigarettes before the new tax was signed into law, but when their supplies are exhausted, may need to consider cessation efforts.
“We have received several inquiries from other counties and organizations about FreshStart,” the American Cancer Society’s smoking cessation program, Elsbury said.
Miller said the interest in quitting smoking created by the new cigarette tax is encouraging.
“We’ve been lobbying several years for it,” she said. “It’s exciting to see that maybe it will make a difference. I’m hoping that it helps reduce teenage smokers.”
