More Kentuckians Calling Smoking Cessation Hotline

Kentucky and federal cigarette taxes go up Wednesday, and state officials say they are already seeing an increase in calls to the state-sponsored quitline.  Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program Manager Irene Centers says they’re preparing for calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW to increase in the coming weeks. “We’ve been on some calls and emails about the increase in all the states in their quit line calls, and what we’re doing to prepare for that, and to handle the extra calls," says says.  "Our coordinators have been talking to the quit line vendor, making sure they can handle the number of calls.”Kentucky’s cigarette tax goes up by thirty-cents on Wednesday; the federal cigarette tax increases by 62-cents on the same day.  Some cigarette manufacturers have already hiked prices to reflect the change.