The Indiana Department of Health is again offering a monetary incentive for smokers and other tobacco users to kick the habit.The Quit Now Contest challenges users to give up tobacco during the month of October, making them eligible for cash prizes of up to $2,500Danese Pease with the Harrison County Tobacco Prevention Consortium says participants will have to prove they abided by the rules."If you’re chosen, you would be verified that you were actually tobacco-free, and by doing so that includes having two people verify that you hadn’t smoked or used tobacco during the month of October, as well as you would have to submit yourself to a saliva test," she said.This is the third year for the Indiana Quit Now contest. Pease says 4,500Hoosiers took part in last year’s event.Indiana’s statewide smoking ban took effect in July. It prohibits smoking in many public buildings, but there are exemptions for casinos, bars, private clubs and other sites. Pease says there have been only three complaints filed in Harrison County alleging violation of the new law.
