Public health experts opine that nearly one million smokers in the US may soon be impelled to kick the butt, as a large rise in the federal tax on cigarettes and tobacco is on the cards. Come April 1 and the already-costly addiction will get even costlier!

With the proposed 62 cents per-pack rise in federal tax on cigarettes, the figures will rise to $1.01 per-pack from the current 39 cents. This increase will help finance the planned extension of a popular public health insurance program for lower income children.

According to Danny McGoldrick, vice president - research - of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids advocacy group, the underlying idea behind the move is clear - higher prices means fewer cigarettes purchased!

Talking about smoking rates and related issues, Dr. Terry Pechacek, of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, said in a telephone interview that a yearly cost of $193 billion is borne by the US in medical expenses and loss of productivity due to smoking, which claims nearly 440,000 lives each year.

Pechacek said: "There is almost unanimous agreement across the scientific community and policymakers that raising the price of cigarettes in whatever fashion has a consistent effect on reducing smoking rates, increasing the quit rate among adult smokers and preventing the initiation of regular smoking by children and young adults."